The Paracrystalline Nature of Lattice Distortion in a High Entropy Alloy

TL;DR

This study provides direct imaging evidence of complex lattice distortions in a high entropy alloy, revealing paracrystalline structures and fractal strain fields that influence its mechanical properties.

Contribution

It introduces a novel electron nanodiffraction approach to directly observe and map lattice distortions in a HEA, uncovering two distinct types of distortion and their interactions.

Findings

Identification of paracrystalline mosaic blocks and strained nano-clusters

Discovery of fractal strain fields across multiple scales

Insights into how lattice distortion enhances alloy strength

Abstract

Severe lattice distortion is suggested for high entropy alloys (HEAs), however, evidence for such effect so far is lacking, and the nature of distortion is yet to be understood. Here, we reveal the distortion in an fcc HEA, Al0.1CrFeCoNi, by direct imaging using electron nanodiffraction. Information about crystal symmetry, lattice strain and atomic distortion are data-mined and mapped from many (~10^4) diffraction patterns. Application to the HEA reveals two embodiments of distortion, nm-sized mosaic blocks of paracrystals and strained nano-clusters. Their interaction gives rise to fractal strain field across nanoscopic to mesoscopic scales. As lattice distortion impedes dislocation motion and contributes to strengthening, results here thus provide critical insights about the complex nature of distortion in a HEA.