Lattice Distortion Effects on Mechanical Properties in Nb-Ti-V-Zr Refractory Medium-Entropy Alloys

Medium-entropy alloys (MEAs) have attracted significant attention due to their unique structure-property relationships. In this study, we examine the effects of lattice distortion on the mechanical properties of Nb-Ti-V-Zr MEAs, focusing on two alloy series: Nb(Ti1.5V)xZr and Nb(TiV)xZr (x = 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5). Experimental results show that the Nb(TiV)xZr r alloys exhibit greater atomic size mismatches and increased lattice distortion compared to the Nb(Ti1.5V)xZr alloys, leading to higher yield strengths via enhanced solid-solution strengthening. However, excessive lattice distortion does not ensure an optimal strength-ductility balance, as the alloys with the highest distortion demonstrate limited plasticity. Thus, moderate reduction in lattice distortion proves beneficial in achieving an excellent compromise between strength and ductility. These findings offer valuable guidance for leveraging lattice distortion in the design of high-strength, high-ductility, body-centered cubic (BCC) MEAs for extreme environments.