Probing deformation behavior of a refractory high-entropy alloy using neutron diffraction

Zhou, Y.*; Song, W.*; Zhang, F.*; Wu, Y.*; Lei, Z.*; Jiao, M.*; Zhang, X.*; Dong, J.*; Zhang, Y.*; Yang, M.*; Lu, Z.*; Harjo, S.   ; Kawasaki, Takuro   ; Gong, W.   ; Zhao, Y.*; Ma, D.*; Lu, Z.*

The grain orientation-dependent lattice strain evolution of a (TiZrHfNb) refractory high-entropy alloy (HEA) during tensile loading has been investigated using neutron diffraction. The equivalent strain-hardening rate of each of the primary -oriented grain families was found to be relatively low, manifesting the macroscopically weak work-hardening ability of such a body-centered cubic (BCC)-structured HEA. This finding is indicative of a dislocation planar slip mode that is confined in a few single-slip planes and leads to in-plane softening by high pile-up stresses.