Effect of Bimodal Grain Size Distribution on the Strain Hardening Behavior of a Medium-Entropy Alloy

Abstract

The evolution of strain hardening behavior of the Fe50(CoCrMnNi)50 medium-entropy alloy as a function of the fraction of recrystallized microstructure and the grain size was studied using the Hollomon and Ludwigson equations. The specimens under study were partially recrystallized, fully recrystallized with ultrafine-grained microstructure, and fully recrystallized with coarse grains. The yield strength decreases steadily as the fraction of recrystallized microstructure and grain size increases due to the recovery process and the Hall–Petch effect. Interestingly, the bimodal grain distribution was found to have a significant impact on strain hardening during plastic deformation. For instance, the highest ultimate tensile strength was exhibited by a 0.97 μm specimen, which was observed to contain a bimodal grain distribution. Furthermore, using the Ludwigson equation, the effect of the bimodal grain distribution was established from the behavior of K2 and n1 curves. These curves tend to show very high values in the specimens with a bimodal grain distribution compared to those that show a homogenous grain distribution. Additionally, the bimodal grain distribution contributes to the extensive Lüders strain observed in the 0.97 μm specimen, which induces a significant deviation of the Hollomon equation at lower strains.