High strength and ductility in a lightweight AlTiNbZrTa refractory high-entropy alloy enabled by nanophase precipitation and solute segregation

Muhammad Abubaker Khan; Jamieson Brechtl; Li Jingyuan; N. Radhika; Yong Zhang; Peter K. Liaw; Wei Bing Liao; Mohamed A. Afifi

doi:10.1016/j.matt.2025.102204

High strength and ductility in a lightweight AlTiNbZrTa refractory high-entropy alloy enabled by nanophase precipitation and solute segregation

Muhammad Abubaker Khan, Jamieson Brechtl, Li Jingyuan, N. Radhika, Yong Zhang, Peter K. Liaw, Wei Bing Liao, Mohamed A. Afifi

Multifunctional Equipment Integration

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

A lightweight body-centered-cubic (BCC) AlTiNbZrTa refractory high-entropy alloy (RHEA) was developed, exhibiting an exceptional combination of high tensile strength (∼1,140 MPa) and ductility (∼30.2% elongation) after a tailored thermomechanical treatment (TMT). This TMT process resulted in significant microstructural refinement, including grain-size reduction, a high density of dislocations, and crucially, the formation of homogeneously distributed B2 and Zr₅Al₃-type nanophases. These nanophases are a direct consequence of solute segregation to dislocations during cold rolling, followed by precipitation during a subsequent heat treatment. The good mechanical properties of this RHEA are attributed to the combined effects of solid-solution strengthening, grain-boundary strengthening, dislocation strengthening, and precipitation hardening. Interestingly, solute segregation along dislocations is observed after cold rolling, resulting in the formation of B2 and Zr₅Al₃-type phases during the post-rolling heat treatment. In summary, this lightweight RHEA demonstrates significant potential for high-performance structural applications.

Original language	English
Article number	102204
Journal	Matter
Volume	8
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matt.2025.102204
State	Published - Jul 2 2025

Funding

M.A.K. would like to express gratitude to the Beijing Municipal Natural Science Fund, “Hui Zhi” Project, under grant number 1S24071 . P.K.L. very much appreciates the support of the National Science Foundation (DMR- 1611180 , 1809640 , and 2226508 ). W.-B.L. acknowledges financial support from Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (grant no. 2025A1515012198 ), and Shenzhen Natural Science Foundation (grant no. 20231120163549001 ).

Keywords

MAP 2: Benchmark
lightweight refractory high-entropy alloy
second-phase particles
solute segregation
tensile properties
thermomechanical treatment

Access to Document

10.1016/j.matt.2025.102204

Cite this

@article{1c6bde470d4d4b0e953bf07a9e6d5b8a,

title = "High strength and ductility in a lightweight AlTiNbZrTa refractory high-entropy alloy enabled by nanophase precipitation and solute segregation",

abstract = "A lightweight body-centered-cubic (BCC) AlTiNbZrTa refractory high-entropy alloy (RHEA) was developed, exhibiting an exceptional combination of high tensile strength (∼1,140 MPa) and ductility (∼30.2\% elongation) after a tailored thermomechanical treatment (TMT). This TMT process resulted in significant microstructural refinement, including grain-size reduction, a high density of dislocations, and crucially, the formation of homogeneously distributed B2 and Zr5Al3-type nanophases. These nanophases are a direct consequence of solute segregation to dislocations during cold rolling, followed by precipitation during a subsequent heat treatment. The good mechanical properties of this RHEA are attributed to the combined effects of solid-solution strengthening, grain-boundary strengthening, dislocation strengthening, and precipitation hardening. Interestingly, solute segregation along dislocations is observed after cold rolling, resulting in the formation of B2 and Zr5Al3-type phases during the post-rolling heat treatment. In summary, this lightweight RHEA demonstrates significant potential for high-performance structural applications.",

keywords = "MAP 2: Benchmark, lightweight refractory high-entropy alloy, second-phase particles, solute segregation, tensile properties, thermomechanical treatment",

author = "Khan, \{Muhammad Abubaker\} and Jamieson Brechtl and Li Jingyuan and N. Radhika and Yong Zhang and Liaw, \{Peter K.\} and Liao, \{Wei Bing\} and Afifi, \{Mohamed A.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 Elsevier Inc.",

year = "2025",

month = jul,

day = "2",

doi = "10.1016/j.matt.2025.102204",

language = "English",

volume = "8",

journal = "Matter",

issn = "2590-2393",

publisher = "Cell Press",

number = "7",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - High strength and ductility in a lightweight AlTiNbZrTa refractory high-entropy alloy enabled by nanophase precipitation and solute segregation

AU - Khan, Muhammad Abubaker

AU - Brechtl, Jamieson

AU - Jingyuan, Li

AU - Radhika, N.

AU - Zhang, Yong

AU - Liaw, Peter K.

AU - Liao, Wei Bing

AU - Afifi, Mohamed A.

PY - 2025/7/2

Y1 - 2025/7/2

N2 - A lightweight body-centered-cubic (BCC) AlTiNbZrTa refractory high-entropy alloy (RHEA) was developed, exhibiting an exceptional combination of high tensile strength (∼1,140 MPa) and ductility (∼30.2% elongation) after a tailored thermomechanical treatment (TMT). This TMT process resulted in significant microstructural refinement, including grain-size reduction, a high density of dislocations, and crucially, the formation of homogeneously distributed B2 and Zr5Al3-type nanophases. These nanophases are a direct consequence of solute segregation to dislocations during cold rolling, followed by precipitation during a subsequent heat treatment. The good mechanical properties of this RHEA are attributed to the combined effects of solid-solution strengthening, grain-boundary strengthening, dislocation strengthening, and precipitation hardening. Interestingly, solute segregation along dislocations is observed after cold rolling, resulting in the formation of B2 and Zr5Al3-type phases during the post-rolling heat treatment. In summary, this lightweight RHEA demonstrates significant potential for high-performance structural applications.

AB - A lightweight body-centered-cubic (BCC) AlTiNbZrTa refractory high-entropy alloy (RHEA) was developed, exhibiting an exceptional combination of high tensile strength (∼1,140 MPa) and ductility (∼30.2% elongation) after a tailored thermomechanical treatment (TMT). This TMT process resulted in significant microstructural refinement, including grain-size reduction, a high density of dislocations, and crucially, the formation of homogeneously distributed B2 and Zr5Al3-type nanophases. These nanophases are a direct consequence of solute segregation to dislocations during cold rolling, followed by precipitation during a subsequent heat treatment. The good mechanical properties of this RHEA are attributed to the combined effects of solid-solution strengthening, grain-boundary strengthening, dislocation strengthening, and precipitation hardening. Interestingly, solute segregation along dislocations is observed after cold rolling, resulting in the formation of B2 and Zr5Al3-type phases during the post-rolling heat treatment. In summary, this lightweight RHEA demonstrates significant potential for high-performance structural applications.

KW - MAP 2: Benchmark

KW - lightweight refractory high-entropy alloy

KW - second-phase particles

KW - solute segregation

KW - tensile properties

KW - thermomechanical treatment

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105008551287

U2 - 10.1016/j.matt.2025.102204

DO - 10.1016/j.matt.2025.102204

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105008551287

SN - 2590-2393

VL - 8

JO - Matter

JF - Matter

IS - 7

M1 - 102204

ER -

High strength and ductility in a lightweight AlTiNbZrTa refractory high-entropy alloy enabled by nanophase precipitation and solute segregation

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this