Can chemical short-range order be transformed into a practical alloy-engineering tool?

Chemical short-range order (CSRO) is prevalent across many metals and alloys and has recently gained particular attention in concentrated alloys. The advent of complex concentrated alloys has spurred renewed interest in understanding and controlling CSRO. Here, we review recent experimental and theoretical progress on CSRO, highlighting both advancements and ongoing controversies, particularly regarding its impact on the physical properties of concentrated alloys. For example, a highly debated issue is the effect of CSRO on mechanical strength, which remains unresolved due to limited experimental measurements confined to a narrow annealing-temperature range, even for widely studied alloys like CoCrNi Evaluation of the CSRO effects on various physical properties is critical to answer a central question: Can CSRO be transformed into a practical alloy-engineering tool? We also identify critical gaps in the experimental and theoretical frameworks to achieve this goal. Despite the extensive study of CSRO, there remains a need for methodologies that enable its practical application in alloy design. We explore potential solutions, emphasizing the promising roles of machine-learning potentials and additive manufacturing in creating novel avenues for CSRO control.