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A high-entropy alloy showing gigapascal superelastic stress and nearly temperature-independent modulus

Author

Listed:
  • Junming Gou

    (Xi’an Jiaotong University)

  • Guoxin Liu

    (Xi’an Jiaotong University)

  • Tianzi Yang

    (Xi’an Jiaotong University)

  • Xiaolian Liu

    (Hangzhou Dianzi University)

  • Yun Pan

    (Xi’an Jiaotong University)

  • Chang Liu

    (Sichuan University)

  • Yu Qian

    (Xi’an Jiaotong University)

  • Yao Liu

    (Xi’an Jiaotong University)

  • Ying Chen

    (Xi’an Jiaotong University)

  • Xuefeng Zhang

    (Hangzhou Dianzi University)

  • Tianyu Ma

    (Xi’an Jiaotong University)

  • Xiaobing Ren

    (National Institute for Materials Science)

Abstract

High-performance superelastic materials with a combination of high superelastic stress, large elastic recovery strain, and stable elastic modulus over a wide temperature range are highly desired for a variety of technological applications. Unfortunately, it is difficult to achieve these multi-functionalities simultaneously because most superelastic materials have to encounter the modulus softening effect and the limited superelastic stress, whereas most Elinvar-type materials show small elastic strain limit. Here, we report a (TiZrHf)44Ni25Cu15Co10Nb6 high-entropy alloy that meets all these requirements. This alloy also shows good cyclic stability, thermally-stable capacity for elastic energy storage, high micro-hardness and good corrosion resistance, allowing it to operate stably in hostile environments. We show that its multi-functionalities stem from a natural composite microstructure, containing a highly-distorted matrix phase with strain glass transition and various structural and compositional heterogeneities from micro- to nano-scale. Our findings may provide insight into designing high-entropy alloys with unconventional and technologically-important functional properties.

Suggested Citation

  • Junming Gou & Guoxin Liu & Tianzi Yang & Xiaolian Liu & Yun Pan & Chang Liu & Yu Qian & Yao Liu & Ying Chen & Xuefeng Zhang & Tianyu Ma & Xiaobing Ren, 2025. "A high-entropy alloy showing gigapascal superelastic stress and nearly temperature-independent modulus," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-56580-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56580-9
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    1. Sheng Xu & Takumi Odaira & Shunsuke Sato & Xiao Xu & Toshihiro Omori & Stefanus Harjo & Takuro Kawasaki & Hanuš Seiner & Kristýna Zoubková & Yasukazu Murakami & Ryosuke Kainuma, 2022. "Non-Hookean large elastic deformation in bulk crystalline metals," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.
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    3. John T. Sypek & Hang Yu & Keith J. Dusoe & Gil Drachuck & Hetal Patel & Amanda M. Giroux & Alan I. Goldman & Andreas Kreyssig & Paul C. Canfield & Sergey L. Bud’ko & Christopher R. Weinberger & Seok-W, 2017. "Superelasticity and cryogenic linear shape memory effects of CaFe2As2," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-9, December.
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