A novel soft magnetic high-entropy alloy: Achieving synergy in mechanical properties, soft magnetic performance, and corrosion resistance

• • Tensile strength of ~1200 MPa combined with ~25% elongation exceeds the typical strength-ductility trade-off in soft magnetic HEAs, enabling load-bearing magnetic components without brittle failure. • • Saturation magnetization of 101.54 Am2·kg-1 and coercivity of 267.34 A·m-1 (≈3.36 Oe) place this alloy among the best-performing magnetic HEAs, reducing hysteresis losses in electrical machines. • • Corrosion current density of 3.99 × 10-7 A·cm-2 in 3.50 wt.% NaCl matches 316L stainless steel, allowing direct deployment in seawater environments without galvanic protection. • • The Fe40Co35Ni15Al3Ta2Cr5 composition leverages nanoprecipitates to pin dislocations while preserving magnetic softness, offering a scalable metallurgical route for structural-functional integration.