Microstructural Evolutions and Mechanical Properties of Energetic Al_(1) (TiZrNbTaMoCr)_(15) High-Entropy Alloys

The present study focuses on investigating the microstructural evolutions and mechanical properties of energetic Al_(1)(TiZrNbTaMoCr)_(15) refractory high-entropy alloys with the different heat treatments at low Al content state. It is found that even with a reduction in the Al content, the strength of these alloys remains unaffected at room temperature and high temperature, while the plasticity improves significantly. In particular, the coherent BCC/B_(2) microstructure with needle-like B_(2) nanoprecipitates dispersed into the BCC matrix is formed in 873 K-aged Al_(1)Ti_(6)Zr_(2)Nb_(3)Ta_(3)Mo_(0.5)Cr_(0.5) alloy. Therefore, this alloy exhibits the highest compression yield strength (σ_(YS) = 1333 and 717 MPa) at room temperature and 1073 K, respectively. After 973 K-aged, the coherent BCC/B_(2) microstructure underwent destabilization, and the B_(2) phase transforms into the brittle Zr5Al3 phase which then coarsens and dominates the microstructure of S3-AlTa_(3) alloy after 1073 K-aged. Moreover, these current alloys exhibit exceptionally high theoretical exothermic enthalpy (ΔH), surpassing 11606 J·g^(−1), which highlights their significant potential as innovative high-performance energetic structural materials.