Processing–Structure–Property Relationships in Next-Generation Titanium Alloys

Dear Colleagues,

Titanium and its alloys remain at the cutting edge of advanced materials research, serving as indispensable candidates across aerospace, automotive, biomedical, marine, and energy sectors. Their unique combination of low density, high specific strength, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility positions them essential for future technologies. However, their full potential is limited by challenges in processing, property tailoring, and cost reduction.

Recent advances in additive manufacturing, powder metallurgy, and hybrid thermo-mechanical processing have led to significant progress in titanium alloy science. These technologies allow unprecedented microstructural control, enabling the design of site-specific properties and hierarchical architecture. Computational thermodynamics, density functional theory, and integrated computational materials engineering (ICME) are increasingly complementing experimental approaches, deepening understanding of phase stability, deformation mechanisms, and diffusion processes. Such insights are guiding novel alloy design strategies—incorporating elements like Nb, Mo, Ta, and Zr that enhance oxidation resistance, creep strength, and corrosion performance.

Trending directions include metastable β-titanium alloys with high strength–ductility synergy, nanostructured and ultrafine-grained Ti alloys for superior fatigue resistance, and high-entropy Ti-based alloys designed to operate under extreme environments. In the biomedical field, surface modifications, and bioactive coatings are revolutionizing titanium implant performance, while porous additively manufactured scaffolds are expanding possibilities in regenerative medicine. In energy and sustainability applications, titanium alloys are explored for hydrogen storage, nuclear systems, and corrosion-resistant marine infrastructure, highlighting their strategic importance in the global energy transition.

Concurrently, advanced characterization techniques including in situ synchrotron diffraction, high-resolution TEM, and atom probe tomography are unlocking atomistic insights into defect interactions, phase transformations, and dislocation dynamics. Coupled with machine learning and artificial intelligence, these tools are accelerating materials discovery and enabling data-driven design of next-generation titanium alloys.

This Special Issue of Crystals aims to highlight frontier advances in titanium alloys, emphasizing structure–property relationships, novel applications, and pathways toward next-generation lightweight materials.

Dr. Maria Ntsoaki Mathabathe
Dr. Amogelang Sylvester Bolokang
Guest Editors

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