Thermodynamics of vacancies and clusters in high-entropy alloys

Abstract

By means of thermodynamic analyses, we provide the intriguing evidence that the equilibrium vacancy concentrations and their clusters in high entropy alloys (HEAs) are substantially larger than those in pure metals and simple binary alloys. The increased defect concentrations strongly change the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of the HEAs. With these findings, we predict a strong recombination tendency of vacancies and interstitials after excitation from radiation bombardments, and the results are favorably compatible with very recent experiments on the superior radiation resistance of HEAs. The thermodynamics of vacancies and clusters in HEAs will be of great interest to the design of advanced materials involving many thermodynamic and kinetic properties such as thermal conductivity, diffusivity, precipitation, creep, and irradiation damage.