Antimicrobial high-entropy alloys as a new player against microbiologically influenced corrosion: Recent advances and comparison with steels and other conventional alloys

Abstract

Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) is increasingly recognized as a critical factor in materials degradation, posing a risk not only to existing infrastructure but also to a broad range of emerging and rapidly growing industries. Addressing MIC challenges across diverse environments and operational conditions requires advanced, durable, and effective materials. High-entropy alloys (HEAs) represent a compelling frontier in materials science, distinguished by their complex compositions and exceptional properties, which arise from unique microstructures, the atomic arrangement of multiple principal elements, and the synergistic effects of their combinations. Many HEAs demonstrate superior corrosion resistance in comparison to conventional alloys, and their concept enables antimicrobial functionalization. From this perspective, antimicrobial HEAs emerge as promising candidates for MIC prevention and mitigation. Despite this potential, the microbiology community and corrosion industry professionals are rarely aware of HEAs, while HEA researchers, seeking new development directions and prospective applications, may not yet recognize the pressing MIC challenges and R&D needs. This review serves as a comprehensive guide for the interdisciplinary community, closing the gap between HEA research and its potential applications in corrosion protection, with emphasis on MIC. It provides a detailed overview of HEAs and conventional alloys exposed to MIC environments, evaluating their performance and exhaustively incorporating the vast majority of existing research on HEAs containing antimicrobial metals. The paper builds bridges and explores opportunities for intersectoral collaboration among applied physicists, materials scientists, corrosion experts, and microbiologists in both laboratory and industry settings.