Additively manufactured CrMnFeCoNi/AlCoCrFeNiTi_0.5 laminated high-entropy alloy with enhanced strength-plasticity synergy

In this study, we additively manufactured a CrMnFeCoNi/AlCoCrFeNiTi_0.5 laminated high-entropy alloy (HEA), with alternating layers of both constituent materials, that exhibits enhanced strength-plasticity synergy during compression (yield strength up to 990 MPa and no complete fracture until 80% strain), surpassing those of monolithic bulk HEAs. The enhanced strength-plasticity synergy originates from heterogenous microstructures of ultra-hard body-centered-cubic equiaxed grains and soft face-centered-cubic columnar grains periodically arranged in the AlCoCrFeNiTi_0.5 and CrMnFeCoNi lamellae, respectively. This study demonstrates a feasible and flexible way to design HEAs with heterogenous microstructures and superior mechanical properties.