TY - JOUR A1 - Vogel, F. A1 - Ngai, S. A1 - Zhou, X. Y. A1 - Zaiser, E. A1 - Manzoni, Anna Maria A1 - Wu, Y. A1 - Zheng, W. W. A1 - Zhang, P. A1 - Thompson, G. B. T1 - Tracking maze-like hierarchical phase separation behavior in a Fe-Si-V alloy N2 - Optimizing the properties of next-generation high-temperature and corrosion-resistant alloys is rooted in balancing structure-property relationships and phase chemistry. Here, we implement a complementary approach based on transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atom probe tomography (APT) to ascertain aspects of hierarchical phase separation behavior, by understanding the microstructural evolution and the three-dimensional (3D) nanochemistry of a single crystal Fe79.5Si15.5V5.0 (at%) alloy. A maze-like hierarchical microstructure forms, in which a complex network of metastable disordered α plates (A2 phase) emerges within ordered α1 precipitates (D03 phase). The supersaturation in α1 (D03) precipitates with Fe and V drives the formation of α (A2) plates. The morphology of α (A2) plates is discussed concerning crystal structure, lattice misfit, and elastic strain. Phase compositions and a ternary phase diagram aid the thermodynamic assessment of the hierarchical phase separation mechanism via the Gibbs energy of mixing. A perspective on the stabilization of hierarchical microstructures beyond Fe79.5Si15.5V5.0 is elaborated by comparing hierarchical alloys. We find that the ratio of elastic anisotropy (Zener ratio) serves as a predictor of the hierarchical particles’ morphology. We suggest that the strengthening effect of hierarchical microstructures can be harnessed by improving the temporal and thermal stability of hierarchical particles. This can be achieved through phase-targeted alloying aiming at the hierarchical particles phase by considering the constituents partitioning behavior. Beyond Fe79.5Si15.5V5.0, our results demonstrate a potential pathway for improving the properties of high-temperature structural materials. KW - Atom probe tomography KW - Transmission electron microscopy KW - Hierarchical microstructure KW - Phase separation PY - 2023 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2023.172157 SN - 0925-8388 VL - 968 SP - 1 EP - 17 PB - Elsevier B.V. AN - OPUS4-58343 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -