Effects of molybdenum on hot deformation behavior and microstructural evolution of Fe(40)Mn(40)Co(10)Cr(10)C(0.5) high entropy alloys

The remarkable properties of high-entropy alloys (HEAs) have resulted in their increased research interest and prompted the use of various strategies to enhance their mechanical properties. In this study, the effects of Mo on the hot compressive deformation behavior of carbon-containing FeMn(40)Co(10)Cr(10) HEAs in the temperature range of 800–1000°C and strain rate of 0.001–0.1 s(−1) was investigated. The microstructural evolutilon and phase structure were characterized by X-ray diffraction and electron backscattered diffraction. The effects of strain, strain rate, and deformation temperature on the thermally activated deformation restoration process of the Fe(39.5)Mn(40)Co(10)Cr(10)C(0.5) and Fe(38.3)Mn(40)Co(10)Cr(10)C(0.5)Mo(1.7) HEAs during hot compression were represented by the Zener–Hollomon parameter. Dynamic recrystallization was initiated at 800°C with the strain rate of 0.001–0.1 s(−1). The precipitation of the M(23)C(6) carbide along the grain boundaries and within the matrix exerted a strong pinning effect on the grain/subgrain boundaries and promoted dynamic recrystallization through the particle-stimulated nucleation of recrystallization. Moreover, the addition of Mo to the Fe(39.5)Mn(40)Co(10)Cr(10)C(0.5) HEA changed the dynamic recrystallization mechanism by reducing the stacking fault energy and enhancing the reverse [Image: see text] phase transformation. The heterogeneous microstructure composed of ultrafine, fine, and larger grains in the Fe(38.3)Mn(40)Co(10)Cr(10)C(0.5)Mo(1.7) HEA could be obtained by the nucleation of new recrystallized grains at large deformed grain boundaries adjacent to the first necklace structures and shear bands.