Advances in Microstructural Characterization and Spray Technology of High-Entropy Alloys
A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Metals and Alloys".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 October 2026 | Viewed by 196
Editor
Interests: process–microstructure–property relationships in metallic materials; high‑entropy alloy design and microstructural engineering for extreme conditions; cold spray additive manufacturing and coating development; powder engineering: atomization, surface chemistry modification and microstructure optimization by heat treatment; advanced multiscale microstructural characterization techniques; multiphysics modelling of materials behaviour
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
High‑entropy alloys (HEAs) have emerged as a transformative class of materials owing to their exceptional mechanical strength, thermal stability, and corrosion resistance derived from their multi‑principal‑element design. As HEAs gain momentum in aerospace, energy, and extreme‑environment applications, advanced deposition and powder‑production technologies have become essential for achieving coatings and components with tailored microstructures and high functional performance.Thermal spray processes, including atmospheric plasma spray (APS), vacuum and low‑pressure plasma spray (VPS/LPPS), high‑velocity oxy‑fuel (HVOF), and high‑velocity air‑fuel (HVAF), enable rapid particle heating, melting, and controlled solidification, producing coatings with distinctive microstructures and superior service behavior. Cold spray additive manufacturing, a solid‑state deposition method, offers a complementary route for building dense HEA coatings and components. By avoiding high‑temperature melting, it facilitates layer‑by‑layer material accumulation while preserving metastable phases, minimizing oxidation, and retaining ultrafine microstructures.
In parallel, atomization technologies such as gas atomization, plasma atomization, and ultrasonic‑assisted atomization play a critical role in producing HEA powders with controlled composition, particle‑size distribution, and morphology. These powders serve as key feedstocks for both thermal and cold spray methods, enabling precise control of microstructural evolution during deposition.
This Special Issue highlights recent advances in microstructural characterization and spray‑related processing of HEAs. We welcome contributions focused on coating design, powder production, phase evolution, microstructural refinement, advanced microscopy techniques, and the relationships between processing parameters, feedstock characteristics, and final coating performance.
Dr. Roghayeh Nikbakht
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- high‑entropy alloy (HEA) processing
- HEA design for multiple sectors
- atomization of HEAs
- thermal spray coatings
- cold spray deposition
- advanced multiscale microstructure analysis (EBSD, TEM, APT)
- oxidation‑resistant microstructures
- multiscale-strengthened HEAs
- composite reinforced HEAs
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
