Research progress of high entropy alloy: Surface treatment improves friction and wear properties

High entropy alloy (HEA) has high hardness, strength and excellent friction and wear properties, which also has broad application prospects in wear-resistant and high temperature coating, aerospace and military fields. However, one third of the world's total energy is consumed by various forms of friction or wear and tear, causing untold economic losses each year. The important way to reduce the wear is to increase the hardness of materials. The surface modification of high entropy alloy is an effective way to improve the friction and wear properties. In this paper, the research progress of high entropy alloys at home and abroad in recent years is reviewed, especially the surface treatment technology which can improve the friction and wear properties of high entropy alloys is introduced, and the influence of surface strengthening treatment on the friction and wear properties and mechanism of high entropy alloys is discussed. Surface treatment mainly includes surface mechanical strengthening, surface heat treatment strengthening, chemical heat treatment strengthening, surface laser cladding treatment, surface plasma treatment, surface electron beam treatment, vapor deposition technology. The purpose of this work is to provide a reference for the research on the friction and wear property of high entropy alloy, to provide corresponding ideas for the possible industrial demand in the future, and to provide the key research direction for future application.