High Work Hardening Index of Fe35Ni35Cr20Mn10 High-Entropy Alloy during Compression Deformation

Using the electric arc melting and copper mold casting method, a non-equiatomic Fe35Ni35Cr20Mn10 high-entropy alloy was successfully fabricated. Microstructural and phase structure analysis was carried out using transmission electron microscopy with selected area electron diffraction and x-ray diffraction. Compression tests were conducted to investigate the deformation and fracture behaviors of the prepared alloys. The results reveal that both the as-cast and as-homogenized samples possess a face-centered cubic structure. Notably, the prepared alloys in both states exhibit remarkable compressive plastic deformation capabilities and a high compression work hardening index. The strain hardening index of the as-cast alloy under compressive plastic deformation is 0.45, and that of the homogeneous alloy is 0.60. The high work hardening index can be attributed to the generation of deformation twins, the proliferation of dislocations, and the formation of dislocation cells, particularly the formation of deformation twins.