Strengthening of CoCrNi medium entropy alloy with gadolinium additions

A series of (CoCrNi)100–xGdx (x = 0/0.1/0.3/0.5/1.0) medium entropy alloys (MEAs) was fabricated by high-vacuum arc melting. The effects of rare-earth element, Gd, additions on the evolution of microstructures and mechanical properties of CoCrNi MEAs were studied. The phase and microstructure were examined using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope. The tensile properties were measured by material testing system (MTS) and the hardness was measured by both Vickers indenter and nanoindentation. As the Gd concentration increased, the phase transformed from face-centered cubic (FCC) to hexagonal close-packed (HCP) precipitates in FCC matrix. Compared to the single phase CoCrNi MEA with the yield strength of 400 MPa and fracture strength of 880 MPa, CoCrNi99.5Gd0.5 MEA exhibited a much higher yield strength of 751 MPa and ultimate tensile strength of 1216 MPa, while the ductility still maintained a high value of ∼55%. The enhanced mechanical properties were ascribed to solid solution, precipitation and grain refinement strengthening mechanisms. The relations among compositions, microstructures and mechanical properties of (CoCrNi)100–xGdx MEAs were discussed.