Tailoring mechanical properties of AlCoCr 0.5 Fe x Ni 2.5 high entropy alloys by cold rolling and annealing

Cold rolling and annealing are performed in the AlCoCr 0.5 Fe x Ni 2.5 ( x = 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5) high entropy alloys (HEAs) with dual-phase structures. The recrystallized microstructures are obtained in these alloys after cold rolling and annealing. The phase constitutions and distributions of the annealed alloys are regulated accompanying with the transformation from FCC-to-BCC phase during the annealing process. The grain refinement caused by recrystallization annealing provides the annealed HEAs a simultaneous improvement in strength and ductility, and the increased proportion of BCC phase gives an extra contribution to strength. A good combination of tensile strength and elongation is achieved in the annealed AlCoCr 0.5 Fe 1.5 Ni 2.5 and AlCoCr 0.5 Fe 2.5 Ni 2.5 HEAs. Graphical abstract