Multi-scale annealing twins generate superior ductility in an additively manufactured high-strength medium entropy alloy

Coherent twin boundaries (CTBs) are internal planar defects that offer a promising pathway for designing advanced metallic materials with superior strength-ductility synergy. However, incorporating nanoscale CTBs into additive manufacturing (AM) microstructures is highly challenging without severe plastic deformation. Here, by utilizing the intrinsic cellular structures in AM alloys, we for the first time achieved a high density of multi-scale annealing twins in a laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) Ni35Co35Cr25Ti3Al2 medium-entropy alloy. These multi-scale annealing twins, together with nanoprecipitates and dislocations, resulted in gigapascal strength (∼1.4 GPa) and substantial tensile ductility (∼25%). We reveal that the AM-induced cellular structures, decorated with entangled dislocations and Ti segregation at the cellular boundaries, facilitate the abundant nucleation of multi-scale annealing twins through interactions with migrating recrystallization boundaries. Additionally, the cellular precipitation networks enhance the thermal stability of nanoscale annealing twins. Frequent dislocation-TB interactions during deformation contribute to superior strain hardenability and thus good ductility. Synergized multiple strengthening mechanisms, i.e., boundary strengthening, precipitation strengthening, and dislocation strengthening, are responsible for the excellent strength. Our present findings advance the design of AM microstructures by harnessing the beneficial effects of cellular structures and provide valuable guidance for developing alloys with exceptional mechanical properties.