Research Progress and Prospects of Energy Release Characteristics of Energetic High-entropy Alloys
LI Zhiqian1, HUANG Jiahao2, XU Lizhi1, DU Chengxin1, PANG Zhaojun1,*, CHENG Chun2,*, DU Zhonghua1
1 School of Mechanical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China 2 MOE Key Laboratory of Impact and Safety Engineering, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, Zhejiang, China
Abstract: Energetic high-entropy alloys (EHEAs), distinguished by their high strength and elevated energy density, have attracted significant attention in studies of impact-induced energy release and are opening new possibilities for enhancing the destructive performance of modern weapon systems. Conventional warheads are predominantly composed of inert metallic materials such as steel, tungsten, or copper, whose lethality relies solely on kinetic penetration and is therefore inherently limited. Replacing these conventional materials with EHEAs enables the integration of chemical energy release with kinetic impact, markedly improving the overall damage efficiency. This review provides a systematic examination of the ignition-triggering mechanisms and energy-release characteristics of EHEAs throughout the fracture-ignition-reaction-release sequence. It summarizes current understanding of crack initiation and fragmentation under various loading conditions, the combustion and reaction behavior of fragments, and recent advances in experimental techniques and numerical simulation approaches. Finally, based on existing research progress, the review identifies key scientific challenges and future research directions, offering guidance for the further development of EHEAs in engineering applications and weapon-system design.
李治倩, 黄佳豪, 徐立志, 杜成鑫, 庞兆君, 程春, 杜忠华. 含能高熵合金能量释放特性的研究进展与展望[J]. 材料导报, 2026, 40(13): 25080105-13.
LI Zhiqian, HUANG Jiahao, XU Lizhi, DU Chengxin, PANG Zhaojun, CHENG Chun, DU Zhonghua. Research Progress and Prospects of Energy Release Characteristics of Energetic High-entropy Alloys. Materials Reports, 2026, 40(13): 25080105-13.
1 Cantor B, Chang I T H, Knight P, et al. Materials Science and Enginee-ring A, 2004, 375-377, 213. 2 Yeh J W, Chen S K, Lin S J, et al. Advanced Engineering Materials, 2004, 6(5), 299. 3 Zhang T W, Jiao Z M, Wang Z H, et al. Scripta Materialia, 2017, 136, 15. 4 Hu M L, Song W D, Duan D B, et al. International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, 2020, 182, 105738. 5 Cui J, Chen S, Zhang Y, et al. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2024, 1002, 175311. 6 Yang Y F, Yang Y J, Dong Y, et al. Materials Research and Application, 2024,18(5), 736(in Chinese). 杨煜锋, 杨玉婧, 董勇, 等. 材料研究与应用, 2024, 18(5), 736. 7 Zhang B, Tang Y, Li S, et al. Entropy, 2021, 23(12), 1632. 8 Dirras G, Couque H, Lilensten L, et al. Materials Characterization, 2016, 111, 106. 9 Gludovatz B, Hohenwarter A, Catoor D, et al. Science, 2014, 345(6201), 1153. 10 Qiao J W, Ma S G, Huang E W, et al. Materials Science Forum, 2011, 688, 419. 11 Yang F, Guo Y F, Hu Y J, et al. Materials Research and Application, 2025, 19(6), 1053(in Chinese). 杨帆, 郭一帆, 胡永俊, 等. 材料研究与应用, 2025, 19(6), 1053. 12 Tsai C W, Tsai M H, Yeh J W, et al. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2010, 490(1-2), 160. 13 Senkov O N, Woodward C F. Materials Science and Engineering A, 2011, 529, 311. 14 Zhang Z, Zhang H, Tang Y, et al. Materials & Design, 2017, 133, 435. 15 Miracle D B, Senkov O N. Acta Materialia, 2017, 122, 448. 16 Ren H, Liu X, Ning J. Materials Science and Engineering A, 2016, 660, 205. 17 Luo P, Wang Z, Jiang C, et al. Materials & Design, 2015, 84, 72. 18 Aydelotte B, Braithwaite C H, Thadhani N N. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 2014, 500(13), 132001. 19 Wang B, Wang C, Liu B, et al. Entropy, 2019, 21(12), 1154. 20 Gwalani B, Wang T, Jagetia A, et al. Entropy, 2020, 22(4), 431. 21 Cao C M, Tong W, Bukhari S H, et al. Materials Science and Enginee-ring A, 2019, 759, 648. 22 Wang X, Wang L, Li T, et al. Materials Science and Engineering A, 2022, 856, 143964. 23 Xia S, Zhang Y. Materials Science and Engineering A, 2018, 733, 408. 24 Li Z, Zhao S, Diao H, et al. Scientific Reports, 2017, 7(1), 42742. 25 Ding Q, Fu X, Chen D, et al. Materials Today, 2019, 25, 21. 26 Xu L, Jia Y, Ma Y, et al. Journal of Materials Science & Technology, 2025, 209, 240. 27 Zhou S, Xiao Y, Zhang J, et al. Heliyon, 2025, 11(4), e42513. 28 Choi W M, Jo Y H, Sohn S S, et al. npj Computational Materials, 2018, 4(1), 1. 29 Wang L Y, Jiang J W, Li M, et al. Defence Technology, 2021, 17(2), 467. 30 Shang C, Ren T, Zhang Q, et al. Materials & Design, 2022, 216, 110564. 31 Zatsarna O, Kotrechko S, Filatov O, et al. Fracture and Structural Integrity, 2024, 18(68), 410. 32 Chen J, Chen C, Guo K, et al. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2023, 933, 167798. 33 Freund F T, Takeuchi A, Lau B W S. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth Parts A/B/C, 2006, 31(4-9), 389. 34 Enomoto Y, Hashimoto H. Nature, 1990, 346(6285), 641. 35 Chen C, Guo Y Y, Gao R K, et al. Materials Science and Technology, 2022, 38(15), 1230. 36 Guo K, Zhang Y, Chen C, et al. Intermetallics, 2024, 170, 108312. 37 Chen H H, Zhang X F, Xiong W, et al. Chinese Journal of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, 2020, 52(5), 1443 (in Chinese). 陈海华, 张先锋, 熊玮, 等. 力学学报, 2020, 52(5), 1443. 38 Guo Y, Liu R, Ran C, et al. Journal of Materials Research and Technology, 2024, 28, 2819. 39 Hou X W, Xiong W, Chen H H, et al. Chinese Journal of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, 2021, 53(9), 2528 (in Chinese). 侯先苇, 熊玮, 陈海华, 等. 力学学报, 2021, 53(9), 2528. 40 Richard G A, Samuel S W. In: Energetic Materials: Performance and Safety. Karlsruhe(DE), 2005, pp. 180. 41 Ames R. In: 43rd AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit. Reno, Nevada, 2005, pp. 42 Ames R. MRS Proceedings, 2005, 896, 0896. 43 Chen X, Du C X, Cheng C, et al. Ordnance Material Science and Engineering, 2018, 41(6), 44 (in Chinese). 陈曦, 杜成鑫, 程春, 等. 兵器材料科学与工程, 2018, 41(6), 44. 44 Wang C T, He Y, Ji C, et al. Intermetallics, 2018, 93, 383. 45 Ren K, Liu H, Chen R, et al. Materials Science and Engineering A, 2021, 827, 142074. 46 Ji W, Zou Q, Yin X, et al. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2024, 984, 173881. 47 Vyazovkin S, Burnham A K, Criado J M, et al. Thermochimica Acta, 2011, 520(1-2), 1. 48 Jing F Q. Introduction to experimental equation of state, Science Press, China, 1986, pp. 25 (in Chinese). 经福谦. 实验物态方程导引, 科学出版社, 1986, pp. 25. 49 Tan H. Experimental shock wave physics, Defence Industry Press, China, 2007(in Chinese). 谭华. 实验冲击波物理导引, 国防工业出版社, 2007. 50 Si S, He C, Liu S, et al. Materials & Design, 2022, 220, 110846. 51 Sheng D, Li T, Zhang W, et al. Journal of Applied Physics, 2025, 137(8), 085904. 52 Lan J, Liu J, Zhang S, et al. Materials & Design, 2020, 186, 108325. 53 Wainwright E R, Schmauss T A, Vummidi Lakshman S, et al. Combustion and Flame, 2018, 196, 487. 54 Wang H, Chao Q, Cui X Y, et al. Materials Today, 2022, 61, 11. 55 Lloyd R. Conventional warhead systems physics and engineering design, America Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA 20191-4333, USA, 1998, pp. 56 Sui M, Wang B, Guo X, et al. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2024, 1001, 175137. 57 Mott N F. A theory of the fragmentation of shells and bombs, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, Berlin, Heidelberg, 2006, pp. 243. 58 Mott N F. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series A: Mathema-tical and Physical Sciences, 1947, 189(1018), 300. 59 Grady D E, Kipp M E. Journal of Applied Physics, 1985, 58(3), 1210. 60 Grady D E, Winfree N A. International Journal of Impact Engineering, 2001, 26(1-10), 249. 61 Grady D E. International Journal of Fracture, 2010, 163(1-2), 85. 62 Grady D E. International Journal of Impact Engineering, 2008, 35(12), 1557. 63 Meng J, Shen B, Wang J, et al. Intermetallics, 2023, 162, 108036. 64 Ma Y, Zhou L, Zhang K, et al. Materials, 2022, 15(20), 7332. 65 Liu S, Liu X, Xie R, et al. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2023, 935, 168022. 66 Meng J Y, He J Z, Zhang B, et al. Defence Technology, 2024, 31, 343. 67 Chen C, Gao R, Guo K, et al. International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer, 2022, 133, 105958. 68 Tang E, Sun Z, Han Y, et al. Results in Physics, 2021, 31, 105019. 69 He Z, Tang E, Ou X, et al. Journal of Materials Research and Technology, 2020, 9(6), 14528. 70 Chen C, Tang E, Zhu W, et al. Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science, 2020, 116, 110132. 71 Tang E L, Xu M Y, Zhang Q M, et al. Chinese Journal of Solid Mechanics, 2016, 37(2), 152 (in Chinese). 唐恩凌, 徐名扬, 张庆明, 等. 固体力学学报, 2016, 37(2), 152. 72 Duan C Z, Qin S W. Heat Treat Metals, 2017, 42(2), 34 (in Chinese). 段春争, 秦泗伟. 金属热处理, 2017, 42(2), 34. 73 Wang D W, Ren K R, Jiang Z R, et al. Explosion and Shock Waves, 2021, 41(3), 031408(in Chinese). 汪德武, 任柯融, 江增荣, 等. 爆炸与冲击, 2021, 41(3), 031408. 74 Wang Y, Wang J, Lei M, et al. Acta Mechanica Sinica, 2022, 38(11), 122116. 75 Yuan K, Yao X, Yu Y, et al. International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, 2023, 246, 108148. 76 Choi W M, Jo Y H, Sohn S S, et al. npj Computational Materials, 2018, 4(1), 1. 77 Lu G, Li P, Liu Z, et al. Materials, 2022, 15(15), 5356. 78 Xiong W, Zhang X, Zheng L, et al. Journal of Materials Science, 2019, 54(8), 6651. 79 Zhao D, Fang H, Jin T, et al. Materials Research Express, 2019, 6(10), 1065h3. 80 Cao J, Chen C L, Ma K, et al. Chinese Journal of Energetic Materials(Hanneng Cailiao), 2023, 31(8), 786 (in Chinese). 曹进, 陈春林, 马坤, 等. 含能材料, 2023, 31(8), 786. 81 Wang H F, Xie J W, Ge C, et al. Defence Technology, 2021, 17(2), 599. 82 Ren S, Zhang Q, Wu Q, et al. International Journal of Impact Engineering, 2019, 130, 124. 83 Geng H, Wang J, Xiong W, et al. Journal of Materials Research and Technology, 2025, 35, 7393. 84 Zhang X F, Shi A S, Qiao L, et al. Journal of Applied Physics, 2013, 113(8), 083508. 85 Majeed M, Chen J, Jin J F, et al. International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, 2025, 301, 110408. 86 Morrison K R, Cherukara M J, Guda V K, et al. Acta Materialia, 2014, 69, 30. 87 Pyzer E O, Pitera J W, Staar P W J, et al. npj Computational Materials, 2022, 8(1), 84. 88 Liu S, Feng G, Xiao L, et al. International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, 2023, 239, 107859. 89 Dai F Z, Sun Y, Wen B, et al. Journal of Materials Science & Technology, 2021, 72, 8. 90 Dai F Z, Wen B, Sun Y, et al. Journal of Materials Science & Technology, 2020, 43, 168.