![]() ![]() in 2017, with a particular focus on the associated atomistic modelling. The defect dynamics and irradiation performances of concentrated solid-solution alloys in comparison to conventional alloys were reviewed by Zhang et al. It seems, therefore, an opportune moment to summarise the state of this part of the HEA field and highlight possible directions for future study. This compared to ∼4000 papers published in the HEA domain as a whole. As of June 2020 (shortly before Scopus’ paper search function was removed) it was found that no more than 100 papers considering HEAs from a nuclear application standpoint had been published, with these typically focussing on alloy design and/or irradiation damage response. The literature examining HEAs for nuclear applications remains relatively limited in size in comparison to that of the wider field. As highlighted by Zinkle and Was, the degradation effects at work in these next-generation applications are numerous and challenging. Specifically, it will focus on HEAs as engineering structural alloys for fusion power plants and Gen-IV fission power plants, and for accident-tolerant fuel (ATF) cladding for both Gen-III and Gen-IV fission. A number of such applications are associated with advanced nuclear power systems, and this review will explore HEA development for them. However, there are a number of structural applications for which the pursuit of HEAs appears more attractive-these are the applications where our current suite of engineering alloys fail to function adequately in the demanding environments we wish to operate in, and it makes commercial sense to use more expensive or dense alloys if they are able to open up these new operational regimes. ![]() For instance, HEAs designed for automotive applications must compete with steels that usually comprise very low concentrations of expensive elements, or Al alloys or Mg alloys that provide superior properties per kg at reasonable cost. It will likely be difficult to commercially exploit high-entropy alloys (HEAs) in most engineering structural applications where steels, Al alloys or Mg alloys have a strong foothold, because HEAs are unlikely to be able to compete in terms of price and/or specific properties. Furthermore, the opportunity to tune the compositions of HEAs over a large range to optimise particular irradiation responses could be very powerful, even if the design process remains challenging. Nevertheless, there may be some mechanisms and effects that are uniquely different in HEAs when compared to more conventional alloys, such as the effect that their poor thermal conductivities have on the displacement cascade. A number of studies have suggested that HEAs possess ‘special’ irradiation damage resistance, although some of the proposed mechanisms, such as those based on sluggish diffusion and lattice distortion, remain somewhat unconvincing (certainly in terms of being universally applicable to all HEAs). It is found that our understanding of the irradiation responses of HEAs remains in its infancy, and much work is needed in order for our knowledge of any single HEA system to match our understanding of conventional alloys such as austenitic steels. This review assesses the work done to date in the field of HEAs for nuclear applications, provides critical insight into the conclusions drawn, and highlights possibilities and challenges for future study. ![]() The expanded compositional freedom afforded by high-entropy alloys (HEAs) represents a unique opportunity for the design of alloys for advanced nuclear applications, in particular for applications where current engineering alloys fall short. ![]()
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