Concentration-Dependent Tungsten Effects on Chemical Short-Range Order and Deformation Behavior in Ni-W alloys

Shaozun Liu; Zehao Li; Hantong Chen; Xingyuan San; Bi-Cheng Zhou; Dieter Isheim; Tiejun Wang; Nie Zhao; Yu Liu; Yong Gan; Xiaobing Hu

arXiv · 2512.21745

Concentration-Dependent Tungsten Effects on Chemical Short-Range Order and Deformation Behavior in Ni-W alloys

Shaozun Liu·Zehao Li·Hantong Chen·Xingyuan San·Bi-Cheng Zhou·Dieter Isheim·Tiejun Wang·Nie Zhao·Yu Liu·Yong Gan·Xiaobing Hu

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Abstract

Ni-W based medium heavy alloys offer a promising pathway to bridge the density-strength gap between tungsten heavy alloys and ultrahigh-strength steels. In this study, the effects of W concentration on chemical short-range order (CSRO), deformation behavior, and grain boundary chemistry of Ni-xW alloys in the range x = 0 to 38 wt% were systematically investigated using a suite of advanced characterization and modeling techniques, including synchrotron X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, atom probe tomography, and first-principles thermodynamic simulations. Our study reveals that strong CSRO emerges when W content exceeds about 30 wt%, producing distinct diffuse scattering and significantly enhancing strain-hardening capacity. During deformation, the presence of SRO promotes planar slip and twin formation, leading to strong dislocation interactions and elevated flow stress. Hall-Petch analysis demonstrates an exceptionally high grain boundary strengthening coefficient (ky about 1100 MPa micrometer^(1/2)) in Ni-38W, underscoring the intrinsic strengthening effect associated with CSRO. First-principles cluster expansion coupled with Monte Carlo simulations reveals that increasing W content enhances SRO tendency through the stabilization of Ni4W-type local configurations. These findings establish a mechanistic link between W concentration, CSRO evolution, and mechanical response, providing new insights for designing high-density, high-strength Ni-W based alloys with optimized performance.

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Shaozun Liu, Zehao Li, Hantong Chen, Xingyuan San, Bi-Cheng Zhou, Dieter Isheim, Tiejun Wang, Nie Zhao, Yu Liu, Yong Gan, Xiaobing Hu. 2026-06-09. Concentration-Dependent Tungsten Effects on Chemical Short-Range Order and Deformation Behavior in Ni-W alloys. https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.21745

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