Weldability of high entropy alloys: Microstructure, mechanical property, and corrosion resistance

In recent years, high entropy alloys (HEAs) have emerged as a promising research focus in the field of materials due to their remarkable properties, including high strength, high hardness, corrosion resistance, and high-temperature resistance. The high reliability joining of HEAs is crucial for their widespread application as structural materials. This review paper analyzes recent advancements in the joining of welded joints associated with HEAs, including homogeneous HEA joints, heterogeneous HEA joints, and joints with HEAs as filler metal or filler layer, using various welding methods, including gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), laser welding (LW), laser deposition welding, brazing, diffusion welding (DB), friction stir welding (FSW), and rotary friction welding (RFW). The microstructural changes, mechanical property variations, and corrosion resistance differences associated with each welding method are evaluated systematically. This review serves as a reference for studying the weldability of HEAs. Finally, the paper discusses the current challenges and future development trends in the welding of HEAs, including the need to improve joint quality and optimize welding parameters, explore new welding techniques, and develop new HEA compositions specifically for welding applications.