| Abstract Scope |
High entropy alloys provide an avenue for creating highly saturated solid solutions, enabling structured microenvironments where each precipitate formation occurs at specific defect sites, dictated by the energy of the defect. Consequently, the distribution and density of
defects can be leveraged to control the sequence and rate of precipitate formation. However, achieving this necessitates a comprehensive understanding of nucleation, growth, recovery and recrystallization processes within complex alloy matrices and phases.
We performed detailed examination of a single HEA composed of transition metals (Al, Co, Cr, Fe, and Ni) using both in situ and ex situ methodologies allowing us to observe the early-stage interactions between defect recovery via dislocation rearrangement and precipitation-induced annihilation. We elucidate the competition between recrystallization-assisted precipitation and precipitation-assisted recrystallization across varying temperatures. Furthermore, we investigate the long-term annealing effects on mechanical and corrosion properties, which are strongly influenced by the extent of recovery and solute partitioning. |