biostudies-literaturePark HNational Research Foundation of Korea (NRF)National Research Foundation of Korea5757https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11233735biostudies-literatureUnknown15(1)Achieving an optimal balance between strength and ductility in advanced engineering materials has long been a challenge for researchers. In the field of material strengthening, most approaches that prevent or impede the motion of dislocations involve ductility reduction. In the present study, we propose a strengthening approach based on spinodal decomposition in which Cu and Al are introduced into a ferrous medium-entropy alloy. The matrix undergoes nanoscale periodic spinodal decomposition via a simple one-step aging procedure. Chemical fluctuations within periodic spinodal decomposed structures induce spinodal hardening, leading to a doubled strengthening effect that surpasses the conventional precipitation strengthening mechanism. Notably, the periodic spinodal decomposed structures effNature communicationsPeriodic spinodal decomposition in double-strengthened medium-entropy alloy.PMC112337352021R1A2C3006662RS-2023-00281246Park HHeo YUSeol JBKim HSHaftlang FWang ZfalsePeriodic spinodal decomposition in double-strengthened medium-entropy alloy.Achieving an optimal balance between strength and ductility in advanced engineering materials has long been a challenge for researchers. In the field of material strengthening, most approaches that prevent or impede the motion of dislocations involve ductility reduction. In the present study, we propose a strengthening approach based on spinodal decomposition in which Cu and Al are introduced into a ferrous medium-entropy alloy. The matrix undergoes nanoscale periodic spinodal decomposition via a simple one-step aging procedure. Chemical fluctuations within periodic spinodal decomposed structures induce spinodal hardening, leading to a doubled strengthening effect that surpasses the conventional precipitation strengthening mechanism. Notably, the periodic spinodal decomposed structures eff2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Jul2025-04-04T11:25:01.9Z2025-04-04T11:25:01.9ZS-EPMC112337353898206510.1038/s41467-024-50078-6