Sub-grain Plastic Strain Localization in CoCrNi Medium Entropy Alloy at Cryogenic Temperatures

High and medium entropy alloys are currently attracting significant research interest due to their potential to achieve superior mechanical properties compared to traditional alloys systems. The CoCrNi alloy has been of particular interest owing to the simple single phase structure, superior fracture toughness, and exceptional strength and ductility at cryogenic temperatures. Previous works have been primarily focused on identifying the operative microstructural mechanisms responsible for improved ductility. The activation of deformation twining at low deformation temperatures and high strains has been identified as a primary source for the improved ductility. However, detailed quantitative analysis focused on the deformation heterogeneities in the vicinity of grain boundaries, in particular at cryogenic temperatures, remains limited. Strain heterogeneities across grain boundaries reveal the micro-mechanisms responsible for the alloy strengthening and fracture properties, thus their measurements is of fundamental importance. The current work is dedicated to study the local strain accumulation in the vicinity of grains boundaries of plastically deforming CoCrNi. High resolution digital image correlation was used to measure and quantify the deformation heterogeneities at room temperature (298 K) and cryogenic temperature (77 K). The work aims to further elucidate the role of grain boundaries in improving the strength and ductility at cryogenic deformation temperatures.