# Small-Scale Insight into Uniform Deformability and Softening Resistance of Refractory High-Entropy Alloy

## TL;DR

This paper explores how refractory high-entropy alloys resist softening and deform under stress, using advanced techniques to study their mechanical behavior at different temperatures.

## Contribution

The study reveals how compositional complexity in HEAs affects deformation mechanisms and softening resistance.

## Key findings

- HEAs show reduced elastic and plastic anisotropy while maintaining high-temperature strength.
- Increased compositional complexity leads to homogeneous flow and smoother stress serrations.
- Lattice distortion promotes dislocation nucleation but hinders glide, enhancing work hardening.

## Abstract

Owing to the outstanding
softening resistance and thermal stability
of BCC-structured refractory high-entropy alloys (HEAs), their unique
deformation-induced defect structures merit investigation. Therefore,
this study evaluated the mechanical properties and deformation behaviors
of W-based low- to high-entropy alloys at various temperatures and
orientations using nanoindentation and microcompression, complemented
by post-mortem TEM and atomistic simulations to observe dislocation
populations and their evolution. Results reveal that HEAs exhibit
reduced elastic and plastic anisotropy while retaining high-temperature
strength. With increasing compositional complexity, planar slip and
abrupt stress drops were progressively replaced by homogeneous flow
and smoother serrations. Severe lattice distortion promoted dislocation
nucleation but impeded long-range glide, enabling cooperative edge
and screw dislocation activity that sustained strength and work hardening
across temperatures.