Abstract
Recently, we note, high entropy alloys have attained incalculable research curiosity owing to remarkable elemental combinations, microstructural features, phase structure/stability, and superior physical characters mainly mechanical, thermal, and corrosion resistance under extreme working conditions. Interestingly, these materials have been found capable of sustaining the mechanical and anticorrosion properties at considerably high temperatures. In addition to the energy, engineering, and biomedical fields, high entropy alloys have been frequently explored for radiation protection applications. In nuclear sector, high entropy alloys and nanocomposite alloys exhibited worthy radiation defense towards wide ranging energetic particles including fast neutrons, gamma rays, electrons/ions, and other radionuclides. Consequently, plentiful high entropy alloys and related nanomaterial (nanocarbons, polymers, inorganic) designs have been found promising as functional bulk material/coatings for nuclear radiation as well as electromagnetic interference defiance. Accordingly, the appropriate experimental as well as theoretical approaches have been applied to study the structure, durability, and nuclear shielding effectiveness. In this context, various active mechanisms have been reported, including the micro-level changes, phase transformations, reduced thermal conductivity, and related radiation induced effects. Henceforth, this all-inclusive state-of-the-art overview, we believe, enlightens the significance of high performance high entropy alloys and nanomaterials for technical radiation defense applications against nuclear and electromagnetic interfering irradiations. In addition to radiation shielding parameters, the next generation high entropy alloy shields have been surveyed for synergistic mechanical, thermal, and anticorrosion features desirable against extreme nuclear/fission reactors environments.