DataVXScience China Technological SciencesPaper
journal article·2026-08

Optimizing the strength-ductility balance in Co-free dual-phase compositionally complex alloys via nacre-like microstructures and hierarchical precipitates

Chaoyu Xie, Qingwei Gao, Zhenlu Cui, Jiafeng Wu, Zhiwei Chen, Qi Liu, Jianhong Gong, Xiaoliang Han, Honggang Sun, Jichao Qiao, Hui Wang, Chongde Cao, Hae Jin Park, Sung Hwan Hong, Ki Buem Kim, Rie Yamauchi Umetsu, Xiaoming Yang, Ruixin Wang, Kaikai Song, Jürgen Eckert

Science China Technological Sciences· Volume 69· Issue 8
Publisher page
Bibliographic record

Abstract

No abstract is available for this record. The assistant can identify its topic from the title, but cannot infer the study’s results.

Source: Not provided · Quality: missing

Research context

Metals & alloys

OpenAlex topics: Calcium Carbonate Crystallization and Inhibition · Magnesium Alloys: Properties and Applications · Bone Tissue Engineering Materials

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

References (84)

Show source-provided references
1. Zhang Z, Qu Z, Xu L, et al. Relationship between strength and uniform elongation of metals based on an exponential hardening law. Acta Mater, 2022, 231: 11786610.1016/j.actamat.2022.117866 ↗
2. Toor Z S, Wu R, Hashmi M R, et al. Computation- and process-based design for advanced structural high-entropy alloy development and analyses: A critical review. Prog Mater Sci, 2026, 155: 10153410.1016/j.pmatsci.2025.101534 ↗
3. Darling K A, Mishin Y, Thadhani N N, et al. Mechanical behavior of microstructurally stable nanocrystalline alloys: Processing, properties, performance, and prospects. Prog Mater Sci, 2026, 155: 10151910.1016/j.pmatsci.2025.101519 ↗
4. Mu Y, He L, Deng S, et al. A high-entropy alloy with dislocation-precipitate skeleton for ultrastrength and ductility. Acta Mater, 2022, 232: 11797510.1016/j.actamat.2022.117975 ↗
5. Ye Y F, Wang Q, Lu J, et al. High-entropy alloy: Challenges and prospects. Mater Today, 2016, 19: 349–36210.1016/j.mattod.2015.11.026 ↗
6. Cantor B. Multicomponent high-entropy Cantor alloys. Prog Mater Sci, 2021, 120: 10075410.1016/j.pmatsci.2020.100754 ↗
7. Sohrabi S, Fu J, Li L, et al. Manufacturing of metallic glass components: Processes, structures and properties. Prog Mater Sci, 2024, 144: 10128310.1016/j.pmatsci.2024.101283 ↗
8. Xing G H, Hao Q, Zhu F, et al. Correlating dynamic relaxation and viscoelasticity in metallic glasses. Sci China-Phys Mech Astron, 2024, 67: 25611110.1007/s11433-023-2345-3 ↗
9. Bouaziz O, Bréchet Y, Embury J D. Heterogeneous and architectured materials: A possible strategy for design of structural materials. Adv Eng Mater, 2008, 10: 24–3610.1002/adem.200700289 ↗
10. Kwon H, Lee J H, Zargaran A, et al. Lüders band-assisted high uniform ductility in ultrastrong ferrous medium-entropy alloy via hierarchical microstructure. Int J Plast, 2025, 190: 10437810.1016/j.ijplas.2025.104378 ↗
11. Jiang S, Xu Y, Wang R, et al. Structurally complex phase engineering enables hydrogen-tolerant Al alloys. Nature, 2025, 641: 358–36410.1038/s41586-025-08879-2 ↗
12. Hsu W L, Tsai C W, Yeh A C, et al. Clarifying the four core effects of high-entropy materials. Nat Rev Chem, 2024, 8: 471–48510.1038/s41570-024-00602-5 ↗
13. Gludovatz B, Hohenwarter A, Catoor D, et al. A fracture-resistant high-entropy alloy for cryogenic applications. Science, 2014, 345: 1153–115810.1126/science.1254581 ↗
14. Senkov O N, Wilks G B, Scott J M, et al. Mechanical properties of Nb25Mo25Ta25W25 and V20Nb20Mo20Ta20W20 refractory high entropy alloys. Intermetallics, 2011, 19: 698–70610.1016/j.intermet.2011.01.004 ↗
15. Li D, Liaw P K, Xie L, et al. Advanced high-entropy alloys breaking the property limits of current materials. J Mater Sci Tech, 2024, 186: 219–23010.1016/j.jmst.2023.12.006 ↗
16. Wang K, Qu B, Zhao J, et al. Accelerated stress relaxation with simultaneously enhanced strength of titanium alloy by phase transformation and stress-induced twinning. Scripta Mater, 2024, 238: 11576110.1016/j.scriptamat.2023.115761 ↗
17. Li T, Liu T, Zhao S, et al. Ultra-strong tungsten refractory high-entropy alloy via stepwise controllable coherent nanoprecipitations. Nat Commun, 2023, 14: 300610.1038/s41467-023-38531-4 ↗
18. An Z, Li A, Mao S, et al. Negative mixing enthalpy solid solutions deliver high strength and ductility. Nature, 2024, 625: 697–70210.1038/s41586-023-06894-9 ↗
19. Lopes J G, Shen J, Maawad E, et al. Time-resolved evolution of the deformation mechanisms in a TRIP/TWIP Fe50Mn30Co10Cr10 high entropy during tensile loading probed with synchrotron X-ray diffraction. Int J Plast, 2024, 179: 10404810.1016/j.ijplas.2024.104048 ↗
20. Sun L, He Z, Jia N, et al. Local chemical order enables an ultrastrong and ductile high-entropy alloy in a cryogenic environment. Sci Adv, 2024, 10: eadq639810.1126/sciadv.adq6398 ↗
21. Niu M C, Qiu S, Yu Q, et al. Achieving excellent elevated-temperature mechanical properties in dual-phase high-entropy alloys via nanoscale co-precipitation and heterostructure engineering. Acta Mater, 2025, 284: 12063410.1016/j.actamat.2024.120634 ↗
22. Amar A, Wang M, Huang R, et al. Ultra-strong and ductile medium entropy alloy with a dual heterogeneous microstructure. Acta Mater, 2025, 284: 12064510.1016/j.actamat.2024.120645 ↗
23. Talluri G, Maurya R S, Murty B S. Composition design of eutectic high-entropy alloys: A review. J Mater Sci, 2025, 60: 1156–118610.1007/s10853-024-10251-0 ↗
24. Shi P, Li R, Li Y, et al. Hierarchical crack buffering triples ductility in eutectic herringbone high-entropy alloys. Science, 2021, 373: 912–91810.1126/science.abf6986 ↗
25. Shi P, Zhong Y, Li Y, et al. Multistage work hardening assisted by multi-type twinning in ultrafine-grained heterostructural eutectic high-entropy alloys. Mater Today, 2020, 41: 62–7110.1016/j.mattod.2020.09.029 ↗
26. Shi P, Ren W, Zheng T, et al. Enhanced strength-ductility synergy in ultrafine-grained eutectic high-entropy alloys by inheriting microstructural lamellae. Nat Commun, 2019, 10: 48910.1038/s41467-019-08460-2 ↗
27. Lu Y, Gao X, Jiang L, et al. Directly cast bulk eutectic and near-eutectic high entropy alloys with balanced strength and ductility in a wide temperature range. Acta Mater, 2017, 124: 143–15010.1016/j.actamat.2016.11.016 ↗
28. Jain S, Jain R, Kumar V, et al. Design strategies and mechanical behaviour of high-strength eutectic high-entropy alloys: A comprehensive review. J Alloys Compd, 2025, 1022: 18000010.1016/j.jallcom.2025.180000 ↗
29. Sohail Y, Zhang C, Xue D, et al. Machine-learning design of ductile FeNiCoAlTa alloys with high strength. Nature, 2025, 643: 119–12410.1038/s41586-025-09160-2 ↗
30. Yan Y Q, Cha W H, Liu S, et al. Ductilization of 2.6-GPa alloys via short-range ordered interfaces and supranano precipitates. Science, 2025, 387: 401–40610.1126/science.adr4917 ↗
31. Zhu Y, Wu X. Perspective on hetero-deformation induced (HDI) hardening and back stress. Mater Res Lett, 2019, 7: 393–39810.1080/21663831.2019.1616331 ↗
32. Sathiyamoorthi P, Kim H S. High-entropy alloys with heterogeneous microstructure: Processing and mechanical properties. Prog Mater Sci, 2022, 123: 10070910.1016/j.pmatsci.2020.100709 ↗
33. Hasan M N, Liu Y F, An X H, et al. Simultaneously enhancing strength and ductility of a high-entropy alloy via gradient hierarchical microstructures. Int J Plast, 2019, 123: 178–19510.1016/j.ijplas.2019.07.017 ↗
34. Liu S, Sun T, Kou Z, et al. Promising pathways for balancing strength and ductility in chemically complex alloys with medium-to-high stacking fault energies. Int J Plast, 2025, 190: 10435810.1016/j.ijplas.2025.104358 ↗
35. Gao Q, Kou Z, Zhou C, et al. Exceptional strength-ductility synergy in a casting multi-principal element alloy with a hierarchically heterogeneous structure. Mater Today, 2024, 81: 70–8310.1016/j.mattod.2024.10.009 ↗
36. Liu X, Song K, Kou Z, et al. Synergistic grain boundary engineering for achieving strength-ductility balance in ultrafine-grained high-Cr-bearing multicomponent alloys. Int J Plast, 2024, 177: 10399210.1016/j.ijplas.2024.103992 ↗
37. Liu X, Kou Z, Qu R, et al. Accelerating matrix/boundary precipitations to explore high-strength and high-ductile Co34Cr32Ni27Al3.5Ti3.5 multicomponent alloys through hot extrusion and annealing. J Mater Sci Tech, 2023, 143: 62–8310.1016/j.jmst.2022.08.052 ↗
38. Cui Z, Si D, Zhang J, et al. Advancing the mechanical performance of chemically complex alloys through strategically engineered bamboo-inspired multi-stage heterostructures. Compos Part B-Eng, 2025, 302: 11254710.1016/j.compositesb.2025.112547 ↗
39. Liu Y, Xie X, Liu Z, et al. Strong and tough magnesium-MAX phase composites with nacre-like lamellar and brick-and-mortar architectures. Commun Mater, 2023, 4: 3010.1038/s43246-023-00358-3 ↗
40. Fu Q, Baino F, Saiz E, et al. Nature-inspired hierarchical materials. J Am Ceram Soc, 2025, 108: e7015610.1111/jace.70156 ↗
41. Wang W, Qu L, Lu Y. Bioinspired strategy to break strength-plasticity trade-off in high-entropy alloy. Mater Res Lett, 2024, 12: 806–81410.1080/21663831.2024.2387747 ↗
42. Soni V, Senkov O N, Gwalani B, et al. Microstructural design for improving ductility of an initially brittle refractory high entropy alloy. Sci Rep, 2018, 8: 881610.1038/s41598-018-27144-3 ↗
43. Li H, Chen T, Li W, et al. Grain size dependent microstructure and texture evolution during dynamic deformation of nanocrystalline face-centered cubic materials. Acta Mater, 2021, 216: 11708810.1016/j.actamat.2021.117088 ↗
44. Padilha A F, Plaut R L, Rios P R. Annealing of cold-worked austenitic stainless steels. ISIJ Int, 2003, 43: 135–14310.2355/isijinternational.43.135 ↗
45. Wang Y D, Lin Peng R, Wang X L, et al. Grain-orientation-dependent residual stress and the effect of annealing in cold-rolled stainless steel. Acta Mater, 2002, 50: 1717–173410.1016/S1359-6454(02)00021-6 ↗
46. Frint P, Wagner M F X. Strain partitioning by recurrent shear localization during equal-channel angular pressing of an AA6060 aluminum alloy. Acta Mater, 2019, 176: 306–31710.1016/j.actamat.2019.07.009 ↗
47. Ayad A, Ramoul M, Rollett A D, et al. Quantifying primary recrystallization from EBSD maps of partially recrystallized states of an IF steel. Mater Charact, 2021, 171: 11077310.1016/j.matchar.2020.110773 ↗
48. Sepúlveda Hernández E, Nguyen-Minh T, Traka K, et al. Orientation dependence of dynamic compared to static recovery in Interstitial Free steel. Scripta Mater, 2024, 249: 11615110.1016/j.scriptamat.2024.116151 ↗
49. Mirzadeh H, Cabrera J M, Najafizadeh A, et al. EBSD study of a hot deformed austenitic stainless steel. Mater Sci Eng-A, 2012, 538: 236–24510.1016/j.msea.2012.01.037 ↗
50. Kim K, Voorhees P W. Ostwald ripening of spheroidal particles in multicomponent alloys. Acta Mater, 2018, 152: 327–33710.1016/j.actamat.2018.04.041 ↗
51. Hu G W, Zeng L C, Du H, et al. Combined effects of solute drag and Zener pinning on grain growth of a NiCoCr medium-entropy alloy. Intermetallics, 2021, 136: 10727110.1016/j.intermet.2021.107271 ↗
52. Collins D M, Yan L, Marquis E A, et al. Lattice misfit during ageing of a polycrystalline nickel-base superalloy. Acta Mater, 2013, 61: 7791–780410.1016/j.actamat.2013.09.018 ↗
53. Wang Q, Li Z, Pang S, et al. Coherent precipitation and strengthening in compositionally complex alloys: A review. Entropy, 2018, 20: 87810.3390/e20110878 ↗
54. Jiang S, Wang H, Wu Y, et al. Ultrastrong steel via minimal lattice misfit and high-density nanoprecipitation. Nature, 2017, 544: 460–46410.1038/nature22032 ↗
55. Ankem S, Margolin H, Greene C, et al. Mechanical properties of alloys consisting of two ductile phases. Prog Mater Sci, 2006, 51: 632–70910.1016/j.pmatsci.2005.10.003 ↗
56. Koizumi Y, Ro Y, Nakazawa S, et al. NiTi-base intermetallic alloys strengthened by Al substitution. Mater Sci Eng-A, 1997, 223: 36–4110.1016/S0921-5093(96)10508-6 ↗
57. Qi J, Fan X, Hoyos D I, et al. Integrated design of aluminum-enriched high-entropy refractory B2 alloys with synergy of high strength and ductility. Sci Adv, 2024, 10: eadq008310.1126/sciadv.adq0083 ↗
58. Yang T, Zhao Y L, Tong Y, et al. Multicomponent intermetallic nanoparticles and superb mechanical behaviors of complex alloys. Science, 2018, 362: 933–93710.1126/science.aas8815 ↗
59. Li C, Ma Y, Hao J, et al. Microstructures and mechanical properties of body-centered-cubic (Al,Ti)0.7(Ni,Co,Fe,Cr)5 high entropy alloys with coherent B2/L21 nanoprecipitation. Mater Sci Eng-A, 2018, 737: 286–29610.1016/j.msea.2018.09.060 ↗
60. Toda-Caraballo I, Rivera-Diaz-del-Castillo P E J. Modelling solid solution hardening in high entropy alloys. Acta Mater, 2015, 85: 14–2310.1016/j.actamat.2014.11.014 ↗
61. Schuh C A, Nieh T G, Iwasaki H. The effect of solid solution W additions on the mechanical properties of nanocrystalline Ni. Acta Mater, 2003, 51: 431–44310.1016/S1359-6454(02)00427-5 ↗
62. He J Y, Liu W H, Wang H, et al. Effects of Al addition on structural evolution and tensile properties of the FeCoNiCrMn high-entropy alloy system. Acta Mater, 2014, 62: 105–11310.1016/j.actamat.2013.09.037 ↗
63. Yang D, Liu Y, Jiang H, et al. A novel FeCrNiAlTi-based high entropy alloy strengthened by refined grains. J Alloys Compd, 2020, 823: 15372910.1016/j.jallcom.2020.153729 ↗
64. Sriharitha R, Murty B S, Kottada R S. Alloying, thermal stability and strengthening in spark plasma sintered ALCoCrCuFeNi high entropy alloys. J Alloys Compd, 2014, 583: 419–42610.1016/j.jallcom.2013.08.176 ↗
65. Wagner C, Laplanche G. Effect of grain size on critical twinning stress and work hardening behavior in the equiatomic CrMnFeCoNi high-entropy alloy. Int J Plast, 2023, 166: 10365110.1016/j.ijplas.2023.103651 ↗
66. Varvenne C, Luque A, Curtin W A. Theory of strengthening in fcc high entropy alloys. Acta Mater, 2016, 118: 164–17610.1016/j.actamat.2016.07.040 ↗
67. Haglund A, Koehler M, Catoor D, et al. Polycrystalline elastic moduli of a high-entropy alloy at cryogenic temperatures. Intermetallics, 2015, 58: 62–6410.1016/j.intermet.2014.11.005 ↗
68. Gao H, Huang Y, Nix W D, et al. Mechanism-based strain gradient plasticity—I. Theory. J Mech Phys Solids, 1999, 47: 1239–126310.1016/S0022-5096(98)00103-3 ↗
69. Shi J Q, Huang C P, Deng S H, et al. In-situ neutron diffraction study of the strengthening mechanism and deformation behavior of cellular structure in high-entropy alloys by additive manufacturing. Int J Plast, 2024, 181: 10408110.1016/j.ijplas.2024.104081 ↗
70. Xie Y, Zhao P C, Tong Y G, et al. Precipitation and heterogeneous strengthened CoCrNi-based medium entropy alloy with excellent strength-ductility combination from room to cryogenic temperatures. Sci China Tech Sci, 2022, 65: 1780–179710.1007/s11431-022-2076-1 ↗
71. Miao J, Slone C, Dasari S, et al. Ordering effects on deformation substructures and strain hardening behavior of a CrCoNi based medium entropy alloy. Acta Mater, 2021, 210: 11682910.1016/j.actamat.2021.116829 ↗
72. He J Y, Wang H, Huang H L, et al. A precipitation-hardened high-entropy alloy with outstanding tensile properties. Acta Mater, 2016, 102: 187–19610.1016/j.actamat.2015.08.076 ↗
73. Pollock T M, Argon A S. Creep resistance of CMSX-3 nickel base superalloy single crystals. Acta Metall Mater, 1992, 40: 1–3010.1016/0956-7151(92)90195-K ↗
74. Wang H, He Q, Gao X, et al. Multifunctional high entropy alloys enabled by severe lattice distortion. Adv Mater, 2024, 36: 230545310.1002/adma.202305453 ↗
75. Ban Y, Huang L, Li Z, et al. Overcoming the strength and ductility trade-off in Ni-based alloy through tailoring of bimodal grain structures, hierarchical twins and coherent nanoprecipitates. Int J Plast, 2024, 183: 10414710.1016/j.ijplas.2024.104147 ↗
76. Yang M, Yan D, Yuan F, et al. Dynamically reinforced heterogeneous grain structure prolongs ductility in a medium-entropy alloy with gigapascal yield strength. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 2018, 115: 7224–722910.1073/pnas.1807817115 ↗
77. Xiong Y, Yang L, Kan Q, et al. Crack behavior and strength-ductility trade-off in particle-reinforced gradient composites: A crystal plasticity-phase field study. Sci China Tech Sci, 2025, 68: 202020410.1007/s11431-025-3016-5 ↗
78. Yang M, Pan Y, Yuan F, et al. Back stress strengthening and strain hardening in gradient structure. Mater Res Lett, 2016, 4: 145–15110.1080/21663831.2016.1153004 ↗
79. Fang X T, He G Z, Zheng C, et al. Effect of heterostructure and hetero-deformation induced hardening on the strength and ductility of brass. Acta Mater, 2020, 186: 644–65510.1016/j.actamat.2020.01.037 ↗
80. Jiang S, Peng R L, Zhao X, et al. Deformation incompatibility enables hetero-deformation induced strengthening in Ti/Nb laminates. Mater Res Lett, 2023, 11: 126–13310.1080/21663831.2022.2128916 ↗
81. Wang Y F, Huang C X, Fang X T, et al. Hetero-deformation induced (HDI) hardening does not increase linearly with strain gradient. Scripta Mater, 2020, 174: 19–2310.1016/j.scriptamat.2019.08.022 ↗
82. Ma E, Zhu T. Defining structural gradient hardening through Type II back stress for heterostructured materials. Scripta Mater, 2026, 271: 11699510.1016/j.scriptamat.2025.116995 ↗
83. Feng H, Zhang H, He Z, et al. Enhanced strength-ductility synergy in a gradient hetero-structured CrCoNi medium-entropy alloy. J Mater Res Tech, 2024, 33: 7491–750210.1016/j.jmrt.2024.11.068 ↗
84. Dong X, Gao B, Xiao L, et al. Heterostructured metallic structural materials: Research methods, properties, and future perspectives. Adv Funct Mater, 2024, 34: 241052110.1002/adfm.202410521 ↗