Local chemical disorder and its anomalous impacts in chemically complex intermetallic alloys

W. C. Xiao; X. Li; J. X. Zhang; Y. M. Zhao; J. Ju; Z. K. Zhao; Y. X. Wang; J. H. Luan; Y. H. Zhou; Y. L. Zhao; T. Yang

doi:10.1016/j.jmst.2025.08.033

Local chemical disorder and its anomalous impacts in chemically complex intermetallic alloys

W. C. Xiao
, X. Li
, J. X. Zhang
, Y. M. Zhao
, J. Ju
, Z. K. Zhao
, Y. X. Wang
, J. H. Luan
, Y. H. Zhou^*
, Y. L. Zhao^*
, T. Yang^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The newly emerged chemically complex intermetallic alloys (CCIMAs) are expected to achieve breakthrough advancements in metallic materials. However, many existing CCIMAs still suffer from limited yield strength due to the single-phase structure, seriously limiting their widespread applications. Here, we successfully resolve this critical issue by controllably introducing the local chemical disorder (LCD) with face-centered-cubic (FCC) structure into the L1₂-type Ni-Co-Si-Ti-Al-based CCIMA, achieving a superior yield strength of ∼1033 MPa and ultimate tensile strength of ∼1730 MPa, and outstanding tensile elongation of ∼29 %. The unique LCD produces an anomalous strengthening effect, which is estimated to be ∼345 MPa. Meanwhile, these disordered nanoparticles with lower stacking fault energy also promote the nucleation of superlattice intrinsic stacking fault (SISF) networks in the CCIMA, contributing to a high strain-hardening rate in the late stage of plastic deformation. This work provides a new insight into developing a strong yet ductile CCIMA for advanced structural applications.

© 2026 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The editorial office of Journal of Materials Science & Technology.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	134-140
Number of pages	7
Journal	Journal of Materials Science and Technology
Volume	255
Online published	8 Sept 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmst.2025.08.033
Publication status	Published - 1 Jun 2026

Funding

The authors from the City University of Hong Kong greatly acknowledge the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 52222112 and 52101151), the Hong Kong Research Grant Council (RGC) (No. C1020-21G), and the International Science &Technology Cooperation Program of Jiangsu Province (No. BZ2023054). Y.L. Zhao from the Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen) thanks the support from Shenzhen Science and Technology Program (No. JCYJ20220531095217039) and Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (No. 2025A1515012586). All the authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. APT research was conducted at the Inter-University 3D APT Unit of City University of Hong Kong (CityU), which is supported by the CityU grant 9360161.

Research Keywords

Chemically complex intermetallic alloys
Deformation mechanism
Local chemical disordering
Mechanical behavior
Ordered matrix superlattice

RGC Funding Information

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10.1016/j.jmst.2025.08.033

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title = "Local chemical disorder and its anomalous impacts in chemically complex intermetallic alloys",

abstract = "The newly emerged chemically complex intermetallic alloys (CCIMAs) are expected to achieve breakthrough advancements in metallic materials. However, many existing CCIMAs still suffer from limited yield strength due to the single-phase structure, seriously limiting their widespread applications. Here, we successfully resolve this critical issue by controllably introducing the local chemical disorder (LCD) with face-centered-cubic (FCC) structure into the L12-type Ni-Co-Si-Ti-Al-based CCIMA, achieving a superior yield strength of ∼1033 MPa and ultimate tensile strength of ∼1730 MPa, and outstanding tensile elongation of ∼29 \%. The unique LCD produces an anomalous strengthening effect, which is estimated to be ∼345 MPa. Meanwhile, these disordered nanoparticles with lower stacking fault energy also promote the nucleation of superlattice intrinsic stacking fault (SISF) networks in the CCIMA, contributing to a high strain-hardening rate in the late stage of plastic deformation. This work provides a new insight into developing a strong yet ductile CCIMA for advanced structural applications. {\textcopyright} 2026 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The editorial office of Journal of Materials Science \& Technology.",

keywords = "Chemically complex intermetallic alloys, Deformation mechanism, Local chemical disordering, Mechanical behavior, Ordered matrix superlattice",

author = "Xiao, \{W. C.\} and X. Li and Zhang, \{J. X.\} and Zhao, \{Y. M.\} and J. Ju and Zhao, \{Z. K.\} and Wang, \{Y. X.\} and Luan, \{J. H.\} and Zhou, \{Y. H.\} and Zhao, \{Y. L.\} and T. Yang",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Local chemical disorder and its anomalous impacts in chemically complex intermetallic alloys

AU - Xiao, W. C.

AU - Li, X.

AU - Zhang, J. X.

AU - Zhao, Y. M.

AU - Ju, J.

AU - Zhao, Z. K.

AU - Wang, Y. X.

AU - Luan, J. H.

AU - Zhou, Y. H.

AU - Zhao, Y. L.

AU - Yang, T.

PY - 2026/6/1

Y1 - 2026/6/1

N2 - The newly emerged chemically complex intermetallic alloys (CCIMAs) are expected to achieve breakthrough advancements in metallic materials. However, many existing CCIMAs still suffer from limited yield strength due to the single-phase structure, seriously limiting their widespread applications. Here, we successfully resolve this critical issue by controllably introducing the local chemical disorder (LCD) with face-centered-cubic (FCC) structure into the L12-type Ni-Co-Si-Ti-Al-based CCIMA, achieving a superior yield strength of ∼1033 MPa and ultimate tensile strength of ∼1730 MPa, and outstanding tensile elongation of ∼29 %. The unique LCD produces an anomalous strengthening effect, which is estimated to be ∼345 MPa. Meanwhile, these disordered nanoparticles with lower stacking fault energy also promote the nucleation of superlattice intrinsic stacking fault (SISF) networks in the CCIMA, contributing to a high strain-hardening rate in the late stage of plastic deformation. This work provides a new insight into developing a strong yet ductile CCIMA for advanced structural applications. © 2026 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The editorial office of Journal of Materials Science & Technology.

AB - The newly emerged chemically complex intermetallic alloys (CCIMAs) are expected to achieve breakthrough advancements in metallic materials. However, many existing CCIMAs still suffer from limited yield strength due to the single-phase structure, seriously limiting their widespread applications. Here, we successfully resolve this critical issue by controllably introducing the local chemical disorder (LCD) with face-centered-cubic (FCC) structure into the L12-type Ni-Co-Si-Ti-Al-based CCIMA, achieving a superior yield strength of ∼1033 MPa and ultimate tensile strength of ∼1730 MPa, and outstanding tensile elongation of ∼29 %. The unique LCD produces an anomalous strengthening effect, which is estimated to be ∼345 MPa. Meanwhile, these disordered nanoparticles with lower stacking fault energy also promote the nucleation of superlattice intrinsic stacking fault (SISF) networks in the CCIMA, contributing to a high strain-hardening rate in the late stage of plastic deformation. This work provides a new insight into developing a strong yet ductile CCIMA for advanced structural applications. © 2026 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The editorial office of Journal of Materials Science & Technology.

KW - Chemically complex intermetallic alloys

KW - Deformation mechanism

KW - Local chemical disordering

KW - Mechanical behavior

KW - Ordered matrix superlattice

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DO - 10.1016/j.jmst.2025.08.033

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SN - 1005-0302

VL - 255

SP - 134

EP - 140

JO - Journal of Materials Science and Technology

JF - Journal of Materials Science and Technology

ER -

Local chemical disorder and its anomalous impacts in chemically complex intermetallic alloys

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CRF: Competing Deformation Mechanisms of Complex Alloys at Thermomechanical Extremes

CRF-Sub-pj: Competing Deformation Mechanisms of Complex Alloys at Thermomechanical Extremes

ResFac: Inter-University 3D Atom Probe Tomography Unit

Cite this

Local chemical disorder and its anomalous impacts in chemically complex intermetallic alloys

Abstract

Funding

Research Keywords

RGC Funding Information

Access Output

Other Access Options

Permanent Link

Other Files and Links

Fingerprint

Projects

CRF: Competing Deformation Mechanisms of Complex Alloys at Thermomechanical Extremes

CRF-Sub-pj: Competing Deformation Mechanisms of Complex Alloys at Thermomechanical Extremes

ResFac: Inter-University 3D Atom Probe Tomography Unit

Cite this