This study examined the microstructure and tensile behavior, from room temperature to 4.2 K, of a carbon-containing CoCrFeMnNi high-entropy alloy (HEA) fabricated by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). Microstructural analysis revealed that the LPBF-built HEA comprised a single face-centered cubic (FCC) phase and exhibited epitaxial grain growth along the build direction. Dislocation cell structures and Cr-rich carbides were also observed within the grains. Tensile testing demonstrated a monotonic increase in both yield strength and ultimate tensile strength with decreasing temperature, and the LPBF-fabricated HEA consistently exhibited higher strength than its wrought counterpart across the entire temperature range investigated. Deformation twins were identified in all tested specimens, with the twin fraction increasing markedly at 4.2 K. These findings suggest that the excellent mechanical performance of the LPBF-fabricated carbon-containing CoCrFeMnNi HEA under ultra-low-temperature conditions is attributable to the combined effects of process-inherent microstructural features and pronounced deformation twinning.
This study investigated the ultra-low-temperature (4.2 K) tensile properties and deformation mechanisms of stainless steel 304L manufactured via laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). The tensile properties of LPBF 304L were compared to those of conventional 304L to assess its suitability for cryogenic applications. The results revealed that LPBF 304L exhibited a significantly higher yield strength but lower ultimate tensile strength and elongation than conventional 304L at 4.2 K. The temperature dependence of the yield strength also favored LPBF 304L. Microstructural analysis demonstrated that LPBF 304L features a high density of dislocation cells and nano-inclusions, contributing to its greater strength. Furthermore, strain-induced martensitic transformation was observed as a key deformation mechanism at cryogenic temperatures, where austenite transformed into both hexagonal-closed packed (HCP) and body-centered cubic (BCC) martensite. Notably, BCC martensite nucleation occurred within a single HCP band. These findings provide critical insights into the mechanical behavior of LPBF 304L at cryogenic temperatures and its potential for applications in extreme environments.
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