Unveiling microstructural origins of the balanced strength–ductility combination in eutectic high-entropy alloys at cryogenic temperatures

Eutectic high-entropy alloys (EHEAs) feature attractive strength–ductility balance at both ambient and cryogenic temperatures. Nevertheless, microstructural origins underpinning these balanced mechanical properties remain elusive. Here the deformation mechanisms of a recently-reported Al19Co20Fe20Ni41 EHEA were comparatively investigated at 298 and 77 K, which revealed a high frequency and density of dislocation multi-slip scenario in the soft eutectic lamellae and the corresponding compatible co-deformation in the adjacent hard lamellae that collectively endowed strong hetero-deformation-induced (HDI) hardening and excellent forest-dislocation hardening. Therefore, better ductility and tensile strength, in comparison to the other widely-studied EHEA system, could be sustained even at liquid-nitrogen temperatures.