Abstract

High entropy alloys (HEAs) are near equiatomic multi-principal-element-alloys (MPEAs) which are different from traditional solvent-based multicomponent alloys. Based on initial work by Yeh and Co-workers, they were proposed to exhibit four "core" effects: high entropy, sluggish diffusion, lattice distortion, and cocktail effect. Present work investigates two of the four "core" effects, i.e. high entropy and sluggish diffusion effects, in Co-Cr-Fe-Ni based transition metal high entropy alloys. Solid-to-solid diffusion couple approach was adopted to investigate, these core effects. Experimental results contradicts the "high entropy" effect based on thermodynamics analysis: that the HEAs with low entropy of mixing may be thermodynamically more stable than the HEA of similar constituent elements with high entropy of mixing. In such cases, enthalpy of mixing can also play a vital role in stabilizing the HEA with lower entropy of mixing. Measurement of diffusion coefficients (i.e. both interdiffusion and tracer diffusion coefficients) in HEAs and its comparison with conventional solvent-based multicomponent alloys suggests that diffusion is not always sluggish in high entropy alloys. Contrary to previous findings, larger fluctuations in lattice potential energy (LPE) of an alloy may not always result in anomalously slow diffusion, in comparison to alloy systems which exhibits smaller fluctuation in LPE. Findings from his dissertation provide a "controversial" understanding of high entropy alloys, and alloy development strategies in the future for the most aggressive applications such as those found in gas turbines and nuclear reactors. As these applications will certainly require the knowledge of high temperature stability and nature of diffusion under extreme application environment.

Notes

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Graduation Date

2019

Semester

Spring

Advisor

Sohn, Yongho

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

College of Engineering and Computer Science

Department

Materials Science Engineering

Degree Program

Materials Science and Engineering

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0007501

URL

http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0007501

Language

English

Release Date

May 2019

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Doctoral Dissertation (Open Access)

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