A critical review of advances and application prospects of soft magnetic high entropy alloys

The design strategy of high-entropy alloys (HEAs) indicates that the range of alloy design has been extended to the central regions of multi-element-phase diagrams, which leads to a significant increase in the degree of compositional freedom. Therefore, the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of the HEA can be coordinated through fine composition and structural modification, especially for two or more conflicting properties such as soft magnetism and other properties. However, the intricate interactions between elements, the ever-changing microstructure, and the incompatibility between soft magnetic and other properties generate a complex web of factors. This work reviewed the typical HEA cases with consideration of soft magnetic along with other properties such as resistivity, mechanical properties, high-temperature magnetic properties, corrosion resistance, etc. The underlying mechanism that interplays the chemical composition, microstructure, and soft magnetic multifunctional properties has been discussed. In addition, the design and processing technology of multifunctional soft magnetic HEAs are also discussed.