Bibliometric Analysis of Laser Powder Bed Additive Manufacturing of High-Entropy Alloys: Where Are We and How Far Have We Come

Abstract

Laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) is one of the main additive manufacturing techniques used in the production of high-entropy alloys (HEAs). However, there is a lack of studies on the production of HEAs by L-PBF with an overview and visualization data. This study creates a map of the academic literature with the help of bibliometric tools and identifies important gaps in the existing literature with L-PBF methods. To this end, we present the bibliometric literature analysis of more than 350 L-PBF-related documents published in the Scopus database between 2015 and January 3, 2024. Additionally, studies carried out in 2024 were also examined. Key contributors, including prolific authors, their collaborators, and leading research sources, were identified, along with keyword co-occurrence networks. China, with 231 publications, was the leading contributor, followed by the USA, Germany, and South Korea. Author frequency and publication counts were analyzed using Lotka's Law, while Bradford's Law, Conceptual Structure Map (MCA) factorial analysis, and thematic mapping provided insights into the field's conceptual and intellectual structure. This research serves as a valuable roadmap, offering a comprehensive reference for researchers to deepen their understanding and explore new research directions in the field. The current status information on producing high entropy alloys with laser-powder bed fusion (L-PBF).Identifying the stages of development in the studies.Presenting evaluations of the importance of the conducted studies.The importance of parameters used in L-PBF methods.Recommendations for key areas of focus for future work.