Enhancing the strength and toughness of WTaTiVN+Taμm heterogeneous alloys via nano Ti–V–N precipitation phase adjustment

Addressing the issue of poor toughness due to the intrinsic brittleness of tungsten alloys is critical for their design. In this study, a WTaTiVN system was developed with optimal nitrogen content. By combining nano-sized WTaTiVN powder, micro-sized WTaTiVN powder, and large-grained Ta powder, a hig...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yifei Hu, Ang Xu, Jilong Liu, Ruoqi Wang, Jinping Suo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-03-01
Series:Journal of Materials Research and Technology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425002121
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832087563804868608
author Yifei Hu
Ang Xu
Jilong Liu
Ruoqi Wang
Jinping Suo
author_facet Yifei Hu
Ang Xu
Jilong Liu
Ruoqi Wang
Jinping Suo
author_sort Yifei Hu
collection DOAJ
description Addressing the issue of poor toughness due to the intrinsic brittleness of tungsten alloys is critical for their design. In this study, a WTaTiVN system was developed with optimal nitrogen content. By combining nano-sized WTaTiVN powder, micro-sized WTaTiVN powder, and large-grained Ta powder, a high-entropy heterogeneous alloy was obtained with a three-phase structure (WTaTiVN+Taμm) through high-energy ball milling (HEBM) and spark plasma sintering (SPS). This alloy featured dispersed nano Ti–V–N precipitates that formed coherent interfaces, which enhanced strength and toughness through heterogeneous structures and dispersed nanoprecipitates. Mechanical performance tests showed that the three-phase WTaTiVN+Taμm alloy exhibited superior flexural strength and fracture toughness compared to the single-phase WTaTiVN high-entropy alloy and two-phase WTaTiVN+Taμm heterogeneous alloy. Microhardness analysis also indicated heterogeneity in the three-phase WTaTiVN+Taμm alloy. X-ray diffraction (XRD) characterization revealed a heterogeneous BCC polycrystalline structure in the sintered samples. SEM-BSE images and EBSD-IPF maps confirmed the presence of WTaTiVN high-entropy nanocrystalline phases and Ta large-grained crystalline phases. These phases were distributed as islands in the WTaTiVN high-entropy micron crystalline phases. Selected area electron diffraction confirmed the precipitation of the Ti–V–N second phase from the grain boundaries of the WTaTiVN islands and matrix, forming coherent interfaces: (110) HEA//(200) Ti–V–N. The dispersed Ti–V–N precipitates pinned grain boundaries, inhibiting grain growth in the HEA islands and matrix. In addition, they impeded dislocation motion, thereby enhancing strength. By forming coherent interfaces with other parts of the HEA islands and matrix, these precipitates improved the yield strength of the HEA islands and matrix, enhancing material heterogeneity and improving the mechanical properties of the alloy.
format Article
id doaj-art-a3060be6001a4a4caa0a072e377db411
institution Kabale University
issn 2238-7854
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Journal of Materials Research and Technology
spelling doaj-art-a3060be6001a4a4caa0a072e377db4112025-02-06T05:11:54ZengElsevierJournal of Materials Research and Technology2238-78542025-03-013529342945Enhancing the strength and toughness of WTaTiVN+Taμm heterogeneous alloys via nano Ti–V–N precipitation phase adjustmentYifei Hu0Ang Xu1Jilong Liu2Ruoqi Wang3Jinping Suo4State Key Lab of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, ChinaState Key Lab of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, ChinaState Key Lab of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, ChinaState Key Lab of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, ChinaCorresponding author.; State Key Lab of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, ChinaAddressing the issue of poor toughness due to the intrinsic brittleness of tungsten alloys is critical for their design. In this study, a WTaTiVN system was developed with optimal nitrogen content. By combining nano-sized WTaTiVN powder, micro-sized WTaTiVN powder, and large-grained Ta powder, a high-entropy heterogeneous alloy was obtained with a three-phase structure (WTaTiVN+Taμm) through high-energy ball milling (HEBM) and spark plasma sintering (SPS). This alloy featured dispersed nano Ti–V–N precipitates that formed coherent interfaces, which enhanced strength and toughness through heterogeneous structures and dispersed nanoprecipitates. Mechanical performance tests showed that the three-phase WTaTiVN+Taμm alloy exhibited superior flexural strength and fracture toughness compared to the single-phase WTaTiVN high-entropy alloy and two-phase WTaTiVN+Taμm heterogeneous alloy. Microhardness analysis also indicated heterogeneity in the three-phase WTaTiVN+Taμm alloy. X-ray diffraction (XRD) characterization revealed a heterogeneous BCC polycrystalline structure in the sintered samples. SEM-BSE images and EBSD-IPF maps confirmed the presence of WTaTiVN high-entropy nanocrystalline phases and Ta large-grained crystalline phases. These phases were distributed as islands in the WTaTiVN high-entropy micron crystalline phases. Selected area electron diffraction confirmed the precipitation of the Ti–V–N second phase from the grain boundaries of the WTaTiVN islands and matrix, forming coherent interfaces: (110) HEA//(200) Ti–V–N. The dispersed Ti–V–N precipitates pinned grain boundaries, inhibiting grain growth in the HEA islands and matrix. In addition, they impeded dislocation motion, thereby enhancing strength. By forming coherent interfaces with other parts of the HEA islands and matrix, these precipitates improved the yield strength of the HEA islands and matrix, enhancing material heterogeneity and improving the mechanical properties of the alloy.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425002121High-entropyHeterogeneous structuresDispersed nanoprecipitatesCoherent interfaces
spellingShingle Yifei Hu
Ang Xu
Jilong Liu
Ruoqi Wang
Jinping Suo
Enhancing the strength and toughness of WTaTiVN+Taμm heterogeneous alloys via nano Ti–V–N precipitation phase adjustment
Journal of Materials Research and Technology
High-entropy
Heterogeneous structures
Dispersed nanoprecipitates
Coherent interfaces
title Enhancing the strength and toughness of WTaTiVN+Taμm heterogeneous alloys via nano Ti–V–N precipitation phase adjustment
title_full Enhancing the strength and toughness of WTaTiVN+Taμm heterogeneous alloys via nano Ti–V–N precipitation phase adjustment
title_fullStr Enhancing the strength and toughness of WTaTiVN+Taμm heterogeneous alloys via nano Ti–V–N precipitation phase adjustment
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing the strength and toughness of WTaTiVN+Taμm heterogeneous alloys via nano Ti–V–N precipitation phase adjustment
title_short Enhancing the strength and toughness of WTaTiVN+Taμm heterogeneous alloys via nano Ti–V–N precipitation phase adjustment
title_sort enhancing the strength and toughness of wtativn taμm heterogeneous alloys via nano ti v n precipitation phase adjustment
topic High-entropy
Heterogeneous structures
Dispersed nanoprecipitates
Coherent interfaces
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425002121
work_keys_str_mv AT yifeihu enhancingthestrengthandtoughnessofwtativntammheterogeneousalloysviananotivnprecipitationphaseadjustment
AT angxu enhancingthestrengthandtoughnessofwtativntammheterogeneousalloysviananotivnprecipitationphaseadjustment
AT jilongliu enhancingthestrengthandtoughnessofwtativntammheterogeneousalloysviananotivnprecipitationphaseadjustment
AT ruoqiwang enhancingthestrengthandtoughnessofwtativntammheterogeneousalloysviananotivnprecipitationphaseadjustment
AT jinpingsuo enhancingthestrengthandtoughnessofwtativntammheterogeneousalloysviananotivnprecipitationphaseadjustment