Strain-induced fully coherent triphase nanoarchitecture in refractory high-entropy alloys.
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| Title: | Strain-induced fully coherent triphase nanoarchitecture in refractory high-entropy alloys. |
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| Authors: | Zhang, Yu (AUTHOR), Li, Zhiqiao (AUTHOR), Xie, Jin (AUTHOR), Zhao, Xiaojun (AUTHOR), Chen, Houwen (AUTHOR), Wang, Yunzhi (AUTHOR), Nie, Jian-Feng (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Science. 6/18/2026, Vol. 392 Issue 6804, p1308-1312. 5p. |
| Subjects: | High-entropy alloys, Phase separation, Microstructure, Crystal lattices, Solid-state phase transformations, Nanostructures, Nanostructured materials, Mechanical behavior of materials |
| Abstract: | Nanostructured materials have exceptional properties, yet scalable fabrication of bulk, three-dimensional, nanograined structures remains a formidable challenge. We report the self-assembly of a fully coherent, triphase nanostructure—resembling a mesocrystal—formed through solid-state phase separation in an equiatomic refractory alloy. The resulting architecture integrates three common metallic crystal structures—face-centered cubic, body-centered cubic, and hexagonal close-packed—interwoven through strain-induced phase separation and unconventional transformation pathways triggered by the separation itself. This nanostructure accommodates large atomic-size mismatches and lattice misfits while maintaining full coherency and thermal stability. The resulting material exhibits a compressive yield strength exceeding 2 gigapascals. These findings provide a method for nanostructure engineering in compositionally complex alloys through strain-induced transformation pathway engineering. Editor's summary: The decrease of grain sizes to below 100 nanometers can result in strengthening of metals and alloys. Properties can continue to improve as the grain size is reduced toward 10 nanometers, but the methods for making these alloys are not scalable. Zhang et al. started with a high-entropy alloy containing equal atomic amounts of hafnium, niobium, tantalum, titanium, and zirconium (see the Perspective by Sun and Misra). Through strain-induced phase separation followed by unusual structural transformations, the alloy forms periodic arrangements of body-centered cubic (BCC), face-centered cubic (FCC), and hexagonal close-packed (HCP) nanocrystals of different compositions. This "coherent" three-phase microstructure leads to enhanced mechanical properties, including a compressive yield strength exceeding two gigapascals. —Marc S. Lavine [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Abstract: | Nanostructured materials have exceptional properties, yet scalable fabrication of bulk, three-dimensional, nanograined structures remains a formidable challenge. We report the self-assembly of a fully coherent, triphase nanostructure—resembling a mesocrystal—formed through solid-state phase separation in an equiatomic refractory alloy. The resulting architecture integrates three common metallic crystal structures—face-centered cubic, body-centered cubic, and hexagonal close-packed—interwoven through strain-induced phase separation and unconventional transformation pathways triggered by the separation itself. This nanostructure accommodates large atomic-size mismatches and lattice misfits while maintaining full coherency and thermal stability. The resulting material exhibits a compressive yield strength exceeding 2 gigapascals. These findings provide a method for nanostructure engineering in compositionally complex alloys through strain-induced transformation pathway engineering. Editor's summary: The decrease of grain sizes to below 100 nanometers can result in strengthening of metals and alloys. Properties can continue to improve as the grain size is reduced toward 10 nanometers, but the methods for making these alloys are not scalable. Zhang et al. started with a high-entropy alloy containing equal atomic amounts of hafnium, niobium, tantalum, titanium, and zirconium (see the Perspective by Sun and Misra). Through strain-induced phase separation followed by unusual structural transformations, the alloy forms periodic arrangements of body-centered cubic (BCC), face-centered cubic (FCC), and hexagonal close-packed (HCP) nanocrystals of different compositions. This "coherent" three-phase microstructure leads to enhanced mechanical properties, including a compressive yield strength exceeding two gigapascals. —Marc S. Lavine [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 00368075 |
| DOI: | 10.1126/science.aec4995 |
