The staggered dual-phase structure in AlCoCrFeNi2.1 eutectic high-entropy alloys for superior irradiation and corrosion resistance

Abstract

The cold-rolling process yields a staggered dual-phase structure in the AlCoCrFeNi_2.1 eutectic high-entropy alloy (EHEA), showcasing resilience against high-temperature and high-pressure water corrosion in the rigorous radiation environment of nuclear reactors. This novel alloy not only fosters heterointerfaces to promote the self-healing of radiation defects but also strategically exploits the variation in corrosion resistance between the FCC and B2 phases to construct barriers hindering the diffusion of corrosion. In contrast to traditional AlCoCrFeNi_2.1 EHEAs, where corrosion behaviors under radiation predominantly stem from the FCC phase, exacerbating the overall corrosion, our experiments demonstrate that the augmented anti-radiation performance of the FCC phase in the staggered dual-phase structure of AlCoCrFeNi_2.1 EHEAs significantly mitigates the impact of coupled irradiation and corrosion effects. This study elevates the performance of AlCoCrFeNi_2.1 EHEAs to a higher echelon, offering fresh insights into the role of heterointerfaces in EHEAs.