Heterostructuring in L12-strengthened high-entropy alloys: controlling continuous-to-discontinuous precipitation ratio to improve tensile properties

While heterostructured materials leveraging both continuous and discontinuous precipitation have been developed to enhance the mechanical properties of L12-strengthened high-entropy alloys, the pivotal role of the hard-to-soft domain ratio remains unexplored. Here, we demonstrate that controlling the continuous-to-discontinuous precipitation (CP-to-DP) ratio effectively improves mechanical performance. Two specimens with different CP-to-DP ratios were systematically compared, and the specimen with a higher DP fraction exhibited superior yield strength and strain-hardening capability. These simultaneous improvements are attributed not only to the higher intrinsic hardness and strain-hardenability of DP region but also to hetero-deformation-induced strengthening, providing valuable insights into heterostructuring in L12-strengthened high-entropy alloys.