Nanoindentation behavior of the laser-repaired CoCrFeNiV high-entropy alloy

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) are solid-solution alloys composed of multiple elements, exhibiting excellent mechanical properties. The unique plastic deformation mechanism induced by their specific solid solution structures has attracted considerable attention but remains incompletely understood, particularly at the micro-scale. In this study, the surface morphology, chemical composition, and microstructures of CoCrFeNiV HEA before and after laser remelting repair were investigated. Nanoindentation testing was employed to characterize the surface hardness and creep behavior of the repaired surface. The distribution of surface hardness before and after laser remelting, as well as the indentation creep behavior under different loads, were studied. The mechanism of indentation creep on the repaired surface was discussed and analyzed. The effect of microstructures of HEAs, including precipitated phases and sub-grain boundaries, on dislocation-dominated micro-scale plastic deformation was elucidated by the transmission electron microscope (TEM). This study contributes to an in-depth understanding of the creep behavior and micro-scale deformation mechanisms in HEAs.