| Abstract Scope |
Under embrittling conditions such as intermediate-temperature irradiation, cryogenic exposure, cyclic loading, wear, rolling-contact fatigue, high strain rates, and hydrogen embrittlement, strain localization typically occurs via concentrated dislocation pathways (e.g., irradiation-induced dislocation channeling). Due to its dual nature as both point and bulk defects, local chemical ordering (LCO) can precisely regulate defect evolution, providing innovative pathways to mitigate damage initiation under these severe conditions. In this presentation, the potential of LCO engineering as a novel strategy for alloy design tailored to extreme environments will be discussed. Specifically, recent research from our group on complex concentrated alloys (CCAs) designed to exhibit enhanced damage tolerance at extreme environments (e.g., cryogenic temperatures) will be introduced. Our findings highlight the critical role of controlled LCO in effectively suppressing strain localization, thereby transforming traditionally embrittling mechanisms into beneficial toughening strategies and enabling the development of high-performance alloys for extreme applications. |