Distinct Recrystallization Kinetics in Ni–Co–Cr–Fe-Based Single-Phase High-Entropy Alloys

Recrystallization has been a major method to induce heterogeneous grain structure for improving the strength–ductility combination of single-phase high-entropy alloys (HEAs). However, the recrystallization kinetics, which are the guideline for controlling the recrystallization behavior, of single-phase HEAs are relatively less explored. Here, we uncover the recrystallization behaviors of typical single-phase NiCoCrFe and Ni₂CoCrFe HEAs. Our results showed that the two investigated HEAs exhibit almost similar recrystallization activation energy around 230 kJ·mol⁻¹, but distinctively different recrystallization kinetics. This abnormal difference is attributed to the deformation twins of NiCoCrFe. These findings indicate that, except for textbook factors, deformation twinning significantly enhances the recrystallization behavior of HEAs.