Effect of grain size on the strain rate sensitivity of CoCrFeNi high-entropy alloy

Abstract Strain rate sensitivity (SRS) of a face-centered cubic (fcc) CoCrFeNi high-entropy alloy (HEA) with grain sizes ranging from 57 μm to 45 nm was investigated using nanoindentation, and was compared with those reported for conventional fcc metals. Experimental results show pronounced grain boundary strengthening in the HEA. Estimated values of the SRS parameter, m and activation volume, V*, indicate similar plastic deformation mechanisms in HEA and Ni in nanocrystalline regime that are grain boundary mediated. In coarse-grained regime, the high lattice friction stress in the HEA results in much higher m and smaller V* as compared to coarse grained Ni.