Deformable reinforcing particles facilitate development of novel metal matrix composites

Conventional rigid reinforcing particles in metal matrix composites (MMCs) typically induce limited or single-level hetero-deformation induced (HDI) strengthening and hardening effect, thereby restricting the further enhancement of mechanical properties. We propose to incorporate deformable reinforcing particles (e.g., medium-/high-entropy materials) into metallic matrices to overcome the above limitation, and verify the feasibility in the laser powder bed fusion of VNbMoTa reinforced Inconel 625 composites. The VNbMoTa particles demonstrated superior storage capacity for geometrically necessary dislocations (GNDs), triggering significant HDI effects and resulting in excellent room- and elevated-temperature tensile properties. It is encouraging that the HDI effect arises between the deformable particles and the matrix, distinct from the current method of generating HDI effects among different parts of matrix. This innovative strategy enlightens that deformable reinforcing particles are conducive to activating multi-level HDI effects in MMCs through coordinated interactions among reinforcing particles and matrix for better mechanical properties.