High-Throughput Preparation and Mechanical Property Screening of Zr-Ti-Nb-Ta Multi-Principal Element Alloys via Multi-Target Sputtering

Zr-Ti-Nb-Ta alloys were synthesized in parallel via multi-target co-sputtering deposition with physical masking in a pseudo-ternary Ti-Nb-ZrTa alloy system. Sixteen alloys with distinct compositions were obtained. Comprehensive characterization of phase structure, microstructure, Young’s modulus, and nanoindentation hardness was undertaken. The Ti-Nb-ZrTa alloys exhibited two typical phase structures: a single-BCC solid-solution structure, and an amorphous structure. Nanoindentation quantification confirmed a Young’s modulus ranging from 110 to 130 GPa, alongside nanoindentation hardness spanning 3.6 to 5.0 GPa. The combination of good hardness and a relatively low Young’s modulus renders these alloys promising candidates for excellent biomedical materials. This work not only offers an effective method for the high-throughput synthesis of multi-principal element alloys, but also sheds light on a strategy for screening the phase structure and mechanical performance within a given alloy system.