Designing strong high-entropy alloys with ductility

In the history of mankind, each step in the progress of the civilization has been shaped by novel materials. The development of novel materials typically follows one or both of two pathways: new chemical composition and microstructure. For a long time, single-element base alloys (e.g., steels, copper alloys, and nickel alloys) have been understood and manufactured to achieve desirable microstructures and properties. The birth of a concept, high-entropy alloy, expands the available range of chemical composition in the field of alloy design. High-entropy alloys composed of multiple elements usually show remarkable properties. Outstanding mechanical properties in high-entropy alloys inspire novel ideas for the development of advanced metallic materials.

In this talk,  I will discuss the recent progress about the strategies to obtain strong high-entropy alloys via solid solution strengthening, Hall-Petch strengthening, and nanotwinning strengthening.