In-situ TEM straining experiments in Cantor’s alloy at room and LN2 temperatures

Cantor’s single-phase equiatomic FeNiCoCrMn alloy is a “high-entropy” alloy (or HEA) which crystallizes in the face-centered cubic (fcc) crystal structure. Its mechanical properties include high strength, particularly at low temperatures, good ductility and a large number of slip systems [1], on which its plasticity largely depends. To have a better understanding of these properties, in situ TEM straining experiments were carried out at room and liquid nitrogen temperatures, with a straining holder that applies mechanical stress on the specimen (locally measured using dislocations’ curvature) to analyze dislocation movements. According to previous studies, the planar slip of dislocations is responsible for the first stages of plasticity and twinning starts afterwards [1] [2] [3]. The strengthening mechanisms are a result of the classical dislocation/obstacle (grain boundary, twinning) interaction, but also of the local lattice distortions that may impede moving dislocations. These interactions seem to affect both perfect and partial dislocations. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract