High-purity alloys for enhanced service performance
processing, mechanisms and prospects
X. Y. Xu (Hebei University of Technology, The University of Hong Kong)
Weng Jia Liu (Hebei University of Technology)
Bing Qiang Wei (Hebei University of Technology)
Min Deng (Hebei University of Technology)
Jia Ning Zhu (TU Delft - Mechanical Engineering)
Hui Yuan Wang (Hebei University of Technology, Yanshan University)
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Abstract
With the rapid advancement of high-performance systems and the growing demands for material reliability in extreme environments, high-purity alloys have become indispensable in next-generation technologies. Trace impurities—even at parts-per-million levels—can drastically deteriorate mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and long-term stability in critical applications such as aerospace, nuclear reactors, advanced microelectronics, and medical implants. High-purity alloys are therefore key to meeting the stringent performance and reliability demands of these technologies. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the development of high-purity alloys, including purification approaches, processing strategies, and performance optimization. It summarizes how trace impurities affect microstructural evolution and material properties and discusses techniques for achieving ultralow impurity levels. The review also highlights impurity sensitivity across major alloy systems and summarizes current strategies to mitigate impurity-related degradation. Moreover, it outlines the role of advanced characterization techniques in detecting and quantifying impurities. Finally, this review emphasizes the essential role of high-purity alloys in the development of advanced structural and functional materials, and outlines the key challenges and future directions in this emerging field.