In IRG-1, Luo, Xin, Rupert, and their students have discovered Ni activated sintering of MoNbTaW guided by a computed grain boundary “phase” (complexion) diagram.
This collaborative study made the first observation of solid-state activated sintering in a high-entropy alloy.
Grain boundary (GB) wetting was observed above the solidus line, implying subsolidus GB prewetting to promote sintering.
A GB diagram was computed to forecast high-temperature GB disordering and explain activated sintering.
Scanning transmission electron microscopy revealed only weak Ni segregation in furnace-cooled specimens, suggesting GB drying during cooling that may alleviate GB embrittlement.
