Achieving superior strength-ductility synergy in CoCrNi medium entropy alloy with a novel bionic brick-mud structure

In recent years, the concept of heterogeneous structure (HGS) strengthening has garnered significant attention due to its superior performance relative to conventional strengthening methods. This study presents a novel bionic brick-mud structure designed to enhance the mechanical properties of CoCrNi medium entropy alloy (MEA). The varying surface hardness between the mud and brick regions activates heterogeneous deformation-induced (HDI) hardening, while internal lattice defects, twin networks, and chemical short-range orders (CSROs) synergistically interact with dislocations. This distinctive structural design results in a remarkable balance between strength and ductility, demonstrating a strengthening effect that surpasses those observed in previous studies.