Multi-Modal Characterization of the B2 Phase in the Ta-Re Binary System

The energy and transportation industries demand materials that retain their mechanical property at high temperatures. Refractory complex concentrated alloys (RCCAs) with a BCC + B2 microstructure offer a potential solution, where maintaining the high temperature mechanical properties can be achieved by precipitation strengthening. This depends on the B2 phase in RCCAs being thermodynamically stable with a high solvus temperature. Recently, we predicted the high temperature stability of the B2 structure in the Ta-Re binary system, using density functional theory. Here, we provide experimental evidence for the existence of this phase for the first time, using a $T{a}_{65}R{e}_{35}$$T{a}_{65}R{e}_{35}$ alloy. Despite Ta-Re binary phase diagrams predicting a single-phase BCC microstructure for $T{a}_{65}R{e}_{35}$$T{a}_{65}R{e}_{35}$, we show that a high Z nanoscale secondary phase appears after heat treatment at 1550 °C$$and 1100 °C$$. Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) revealed that this phase has a cubic structure and is equiatomic TaRe though B2 superlattice reflections were absent in fast Fourier transforms (FFT) and diffraction patterns (DPs). DP simulations indicate that the B2 TaRe superlattice reflections are up to two orders of magnitude weaker than their fundamental reflections, making their detection challenging via electron microscopy. Neutron diffraction confirmed the second phase had a B2 structure. This study identified a previously unobserved high temperature stable B2 phase in the Ta-Re system, enabling the development of new high temperature BCC + B2 RCCAs.