Radiation damage in concentrated solid-solution and high-entropy alloys

Abstract

The outstanding properties of high-entropy alloys (HEAs), including strength, ductility, radiation, and corrosion resistance, have made them potential candidates as structural materials for advanced nuclear applications. To fulfill this potential, HEAs need to be designed with explicit principles and need to demonstrate robust performance under harsh radiation environments at elevated temperatures. This chapter reviews recent advances in the fundamental understanding of defect properties at the early stage of radiation in concentrated solid-solution alloys (CSAs) ranging from binary CSAs to HEAs with five or more elements. The effects of tunable chemical complexity on energy dissipation, defect energetics, and defect dynamics are discussed. The radiation performance of CSAs and HEAs is then evaluated by examining the defect and microstructure evolution under various irradiation conditions. Radiation-induced segregation and precipitation, and the growth of cavities and dislocations are presented and compared with conventional alloys. The potential strategies to enhance the radiation tolerance of CSAs and HEAs are proposed, and the limitations of the current studies are discussed.