Structure of some CoCrFeNi and CoCrFeNiPd multicomponent HEA alloys by diffraction techniques

• As-cast CoCrFeNi is not single-phase but made of at least two different fcc phases.
• All investigated CoCrFeNiPdx alloys consist of at least three different fcc phases.
• Standard heat treatments have a significant effect on the alloy phase composition.

The structure of CoCrFeyNi (y = 0, 0.8 and 1.2) and CoCrFeNi-Pdx (x = 0.0, 0.5, 0.8, 1.0, 1.2 and 1.5) High Entropy Alloys has been investigated by neutron and standard X-ray as well as by high-energy X-ray diffraction techniques. The alloys were produced by arc melting and afterwards heat treated under several different conditions. It has been concluded that the CoCrFeNi alloy in as-cast condition is, contrary to what is claimed in the literature, not single-phase but consists of at least two different phases, both of fcc type. The difference in lattice constant between the two phases is close to 0.001 Å. Diffraction patterns measured by X-ray and neutron diffraction have shown that the structure of the alloy is not affected by 3 h heat treatment up to 1100 °C. Changing the amount of Fe has no drastic effect on alloy structure. The Pd-containing alloys have also all been found not to be single-phase but to consist of at least four different phases, all being of fcc type. The lattice constants for all phases increase with Pd content. The relative amounts of the different phases depend on Pd concentration. Furthermore, heat treatments of 3 h duration at different temperatures have a significant effect on the alloy phase composition. It is suggested that HEAs should be considered as multicomponent alloys presenting “simple” diffraction patterns, e.g. consisting of one or several lattices of fcc, hcp or bcc type with very close lattice parameters.