Brittle intermetallic phases that exist ubiquitously in diverse technologically important structural materials, especially in multiple principal element alloys, hamper practical applications due to premature failure. Here, we report a hierarchical hetero-lamellar structure (HLS) fabricated using a microstructural inheritance and refinement strategy that involves simple rolling followed by rapid annealing in a brittle B2-intermetallic-containing Al0.7CoCrFeNi MPEA. By harnessing high hetero-deformation-induced internal stresses, the designed HLS sequentially stimulates multiple previously inaccessible deformation and reinforcement mechanisms, which not only ductilize the brittle B2 phase, preempting premature failure, but also substantially strain-harden the adjoining soft phase to sustain stable tensile flow, leading to superior strength−ductility enhancement. This fast and low-cost microstructural design strategy is expected to impact a broad range of structural materials.
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