Microstructure Formation in Cast TiZrHfCoNiCu and CoNiCuAlGaIn High Entropy Shape Memory Alloys: A Comparison

Abstract

The present study is dedicated to the microstructure characterization of the as-cast high entropy intermetallics that undergo a martensitic transformation, which is associated with the shape memory effect. It is shown that the TiZrHfCoNiCu system exhibits strong dendritic liquation, which leads to the formation of martensite crystals inside the dendrites. In contrast, in the CoNiCuAlGaIn system the dendritic liquation allows the martensite crystals to form only in interdendritic regions. This phenomenon together with the peculiarities of chemical inhomogeneities formed upon crystallization of this novel multicomponent shape memory alloys systems will be analyzed and discussed.