Nanoparticle-strengthened Ni_(2)CoCrNb_(0.2)medium-entropy alloy with an ultrastrong cryogenic yield strength fabricated by additive manufacturing

To improve the yield strength of metallic materials at low temperatures,a strategy of combining the calculation of phase diagrams(CALPHAD)technique with the overall valence electron concentration(OVEC)principle is applied,and a Ni_(2)CoCrNb_(0.2)medium-entropy alloy(MEA)with D022 superlattice(noted as theγ″phase)is designed.Bulk MEA samples without defects were successfully fabricated using laser additive manufacturing(AM),followed by solution treatment at 1200℃for 1 h and then aging at 650℃for 120 h.The nanoscaleγ″phase precipitated.The tensile results indicated that the MEA had superior yield strengths of∼1180 MPa and∼1320 MPa and tensile strengths of∼1335 MPa and∼1552 MPa at 293 K and 77 K,respectively.The yield strength obtained was superior to that of currently reported medium/high-entropy alloys and typical advanced cryogenic steel.The mechanical properties of the Ni_(2)CoCrNb_(0.2)MEA demonstrated a strong temperature dependence,and the increased yield strength was mainly attributed to the increase in lattice friction stress at low temperatures.This research provides a new strategy for producing materials with ultrastrong cryogenic yield strengths by AM.

Relaxor behavior and superior ferroelectricity of Y_(2)O_(3)-doped(Ba_(0.98)Ca_(0.02))(Ti_(0.94)Sn_(0.04)Zr_(0.02))O_(3) lead-free ceramics

To upgrade the electric properties of lead-free piezoceramics,(1-x)(Ba_(0.98)Ca_(0.02)Ti_(0.94)Sn_(0.04)Zr_(0.02))O_(3)-xY_(2)O_(3)(abbreviated as(1-x)BCTSZ-xY,x=0 mol%,0.02 mol%,0.04 mol%,0.06 mol%,0.08 mol%and 0.1 mol%)ceramics were successfully synthesized by traditional solid-state sintering method.The phase structure and microstructure of ceramics were investigated by X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscopy(SEM)and piezoresponse force microscopyeramics(PFM).The electric properties of ceramics were researched through piezoelectric,dielectric and ferroelectric test instruments.The results show that all samples have pure perovskite structure and favorable electric properties.The optimal electric properties which especially include superior ferroelectric properties are gained when Y_(2)O_(3)content is 0.06 mol%(d_(33)=419 pC/N,k_(p)=52%,T_(c)=89.5℃,ε_(r)=26900,tanδ=2.86%,P_(r)=14.41μC/cm^(2),Ec=1.8 kV/cm).Moreover,the temperature-dependent dielectricity of samples shows apparent relaxor behavior under different frequencies.The Curie-Weiss law further proves that all samples are typical relaxor ferroelectrics,and the relaxor degree of samples decreases with increase of Y_(2)O_(3)content.In conclusion,Y_(2)O_(3)plays a significant role in enhancing electric properties of BCTSZ ceramics.