Spinodal Decomposition in FeMnNiCoCu: Alloying effects
- Spinodal decomposition in multi-component alloys remains insufficiently understood, particularly when multiple driving forces govern phase evolution. Chemical thermodynamics provides reliable predictions of spinodal instabilities, but elastic energy contributions can significantly alter the boundaries of phase stability. In this work, we establish a framework to analyze phase stability in high-entropy alloys by combining Hessian-based spinodal analysis with convex hull constructions that capture miscibility gaps. This approach allows us to disentangle the roles of chemical, elastic, and kinetic factors in early-stage decomposition. Our results highlight how elastic contributions can extend the effective spinodal region beyond chemically predicted boundaries, thereby influencing microstructural pathways. This combined stability analysis offers new insights into the mechanisms governing decomposition and advancing the theoretical understanding of phase evolution in high-entropy alloys.