Advances in the Corrosion Behavior of High-Entropy Alloys in Lead-Bismuth Eutectic System

Abstract

The service life and safety of advanced nuclear reactors are heavily dependent on the stability of core materials. In lead-cooled fast reactors (LFRs), lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) serves as the coolant due to its superior thermal conductivity, low melting point, high boiling point, excellent fluidity, and radiation resistance. During the operation of LFRs, the core materials are in direct contact with LBE, making the compatibility between LBE and these materials a critical concern. It has been established that LBE is highly corrosive to metallic materials, posing significant challenges to the long-term safety and operational reliability of LFRs. Consequently, researchers have focused on developing a range of corrosion-resistant materials, among which high-entropy alloys (HEAs) have gained considerable attention in recent years due to their exceptional resistance to high-temperature corrosion and radiation damage. This review summarizes the recent advance research on HEAs and their coatings on corrosion resistance in LBE environments. The article examines the effects of alloy composition, microstructure, oxygen concentration, corrosion exposure time, and temperature on the corrosion resistance of HEAs. The findings offer valuable insights into material selection and surface protection strategies for critical reactor components in advanced nuclear reactors.