TY - JOUR A1 - Darvishi Kamachali, Reza A1 - Wang, L. T1 - Elastic energy of multi-component solid solutions and strain origins of phase stability in high-entropy alloys N2 - The elastic energy of mixing for multi-component solid solutions is derived by generalizing Eshelby's sphere-in-hole model. By surveying the dependence of the elastic energy on the chemical composition and lattice misfit, we derive a lattice strain coefficient λ*. Studying several high-entropy alloys and superalloys, we propose that most solid solution multi-component alloys are stable when λ*<0.16, generalizing the Hume-Rothery atomic-size rule for binary alloys. We also reveal that the polydispersity index δ, frequently used for describing strain in multi-component alloys, directly represents the elastic energy e with e=qδ², q being an elastic constant. Furthermore, the effects of (i) the number and (ii) the atomic-size distribution of constituting elements on the phase stability of high-entropy alloys were quantified. The present derivations and discussions open for richer considerations of elastic effects in high-entropy alloys, offering immediate support for quantitative assessments of their thermodynamic properties and studying related strengthening mechanisms. KW - Ordering KW - High-entropy alloys KW - Alloy design KW - Strain energy KW - Phase stability PY - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scriptamat.2021.114226 SN - 1359-6462 VL - 206 SP - 1 EP - 6 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam AN - OPUS4-53427 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -