Multiple potential phase-separation paths in multi-principal element alloys

Multiple potential phase-separation paths in multi-principal element alloys | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Multiple potential phase-separation paths in multi-principal element alloys Xiao-Lei Wu, Peiyu Cao, Feng Liu, Fu-Ping Yuan, En Ma This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4242327/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract It is now well established that multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs) offer ample opportunities for exploring new compositions beyond those accessed previously by conventional alloys. However, there is one more realm of possibility presented by MPEAs that has not been touch upon thus far. Here we show that, different from conventional alloys based on a single host element, a given starting MPEA solid solution on its way towards equilibrium can take a rich variety of potential decomposition pathways via multi-stage phase separation, offering a wide range of composition destinations. If/when some of them are reached, assuming kinetically allowed, the multiple phase separation reactions one after another would lead to domains that are compositionally complex and spatially localized. This hypothetical scenario is demonstrated in this paper using a model that mimics Cr-Co-Ni MPEA, showing a preponderance of multiplicity even when assuming only fcc-based phases can form. The complex chemical heterogeneities created as such are expected to be an additional knob to turn for tuning spatially variable composition and chemical order and therefore mechanical properties. Our results thus advocate multiple phase separation possibilities with many potential paths and terminal chemical heterogeneities as yet another important characteristic that distinguishes MPEAs from conventional alloys. Physical sciences/Materials science/Condensed-matter physics/Phase transitions and critical phenomena Physical sciences/Materials science/Condensed-matter physics/Structure of solids and liquids Physical sciences/Materials science/Structural materials/Metals and alloys Physical sciences/Materials science/Structural materials/Mechanical properties Physical sciences/Materials science/Nanoscale materials/Structural properties Multi-principal element alloy Phase separation Nucleation-growth Spinodal decomposition Local composition Local chemical order Heterogeneity Full Text Additional Declarations (Not answered) Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-4242327","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":293933639,"identity":"9210e4ca-ac15-4ded-9168-4ac88cf44cc9","order_by":0,"name":"Xiao-Lei Wu","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAtUlEQVRIiWNgGAWjYDACdiD+YAAkJIjWwszAwDiDZC3MPAykaDE4zGMmbVOwTY5/dgPjhx8MdnkEtUg2A7XkGNw2lrhzgFmyhyG5mKAWfmbebSAtiRskEhikGRgOJDYQ0sIG0mJhcLseqIX5N1FawLYwGNxOMJBIYCPOFslm/s+WPQa3DWfcSGwDMpIJazE43pZ448ef2/L8M5IP3/hRYUdYCxJgBCo2IEH9KBgFo2AUjALcAAA9qTNLLZ0uiwAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8270-7621","institution":"Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Xiao-Lei","middleName":"","lastName":"Wu","suffix":""},{"id":293933640,"identity":"f73a7c51-c434-4df4-9322-f0199f96cbb3","order_by":1,"name":"Peiyu Cao","email":"","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4937-7402","institution":"Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Peiyu","middleName":"","lastName":"Cao","suffix":""},{"id":293933641,"identity":"d819b7b3-4a37-43f3-b5bc-6e665ccb4668","order_by":2,"name":"Feng Liu","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Feng","middleName":"","lastName":"Liu","suffix":""},{"id":293933642,"identity":"f00f2f67-6640-4014-baa1-f677b313bb80","order_by":3,"name":"Fu-Ping Yuan","email":"","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3689-6753","institution":"Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Science","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Fu-Ping","middleName":"","lastName":"Yuan","suffix":""},{"id":293933643,"identity":"fd7115bd-4f22-42da-a145-b28d7b266ae3","order_by":4,"name":"En Ma","email":"","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7468-4340","institution":"Xi'an Jiaotong University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"En","middleName":"","lastName":"Ma","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2024-04-09 13:40:40","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4242327/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4242327/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":57204552,"identity":"2b2e6d73-7c77-4ba7-8f34-457ae610c221","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-05-27 10:43:47","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1318387,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4242327/v1_covered_209b06df-26e2-4a02-b726-9d0e3e55f942.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"(Not answered)","formattedTitle":"Multiple potential phase-separation paths in multi-principal element alloys","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Multi-principal element alloy, Phase separation, Nucleation-growth, Spinodal decomposition, Local composition, Local chemical order, Heterogeneity","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4242327/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4242327/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eIt is now well established that multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs) offer ample opportunities for exploring new compositions beyond those accessed previously by conventional alloys. 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