Annealing textures of low stacking fault energy (SFE) FCC materials: Traversing binary to high entropy alloys (HEAs)

Although the origin of brass-type deformation texture in low SFE alloys has been extensively investigated, the annealing textures of such materials have received less attention, mostly limited to brass and different austenitic steels. On the other hand, the annealing textures of low SFE HEAs have been investigated more intensively recently; however, a comprehensive insight into annealing texture formation from HEAs down to binary systems is missing. To bridge the gap, the annealing texture of FCC single-phase Cu-11.6 at%Al alloy with SFE ∼10 $\mathrm{mJ}{m}^{-2}$ comparable to HEAs was first investigated as a model binary system and compared with selected low SFE binary, medium entropy (MEAs), and HEAs to understand the similarities and characteristic differences. The cold-rolled alloy showed massive nanostructure and a typical brass-type texture featured by a strong B ({110}<112>) component expected for a low SFE alloy. Annealing resulted in ultrafine recrystallized microstructure but extensive grain growth at higher temperatures, like other binary alloys but unlike HEAs. The annealing texture showed the retention of deformation components, weak α-fiber (ND//<110>) components and a high random fraction. These features were very similar to HEAs/MEAs and attributed to the absence of oriented nucleation (ON) or oriented growth (OG) mechanisms. However, striking differences such as strong BR ({236}<385>) and D ({113}<332>) components in the brass alloy, selective growth of the G ({110}<001>) and G/B ({110}<115>) in binary Ni-60wt%Co alloy, and strong retention of the {110}<112> component in the annealing texture of (FCC+B2) dual-phase AlCrFe₂Ni₂ HEA were remarkable. These outcomes indicated underlying microstructural effects on annealing texture formation in low SFE binary to HEAs/MEAs and should motivate further research.