Corrosion Resistance of High-Entropy Alloys in Plateau Salt-Lake Environments

The corrosion behavior of high-entropy alloys under cyclic wet–dry conditions simulating the salt-lake atmosphere was investigated. The composition, morphology, and electrochemical properties of the corrosion products formed on the alloy surface after corrosion were systematically analyzed. The results show that in a chloride-containing environment with alternating temperature and humidity, the Cr-containing oxide passive film formed on the alloy surface effectively inhibits the corrosion process in the early stages. In addition, electrochemical results show that the charge transfer resistance in the MgCl2 system reaches 4.96 × 105 Ω·cm2 at prolonged exposure, which is significantly higher than that in the NaCl system, indicating a lower corrosion rate. However, over time, the passive film undergoes localized rupture due to chloride ion attack and stress, leading to pitting corrosion and expansion toward the substrate. This study reveals the corrosion mechanism of high-entropy alloys in high-altitude salt-lake atmospheric environments and provides crucial insights for material design and performance optimization for their engineering applications in salt-lake scenarios.