Crystallization of High-Performance Metallic Materials (3rd Edition)

A special issue of Crystals (ISSN 2073-4352). This special issue belongs to the section "Crystalline Metals and Alloys".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 December 2026 | Viewed by 2267

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Brinellvägen 23, SE-10044 Stockholm, Sweden
Interests: microstructure and property correlation of engineering materials; thermophysical property analysis; in situ characterization; sustainable metallurgy; chemical engineering
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue “Crystallization of High-Performance Metallic Materials (2nd Edition)” in Crystals has attracted widespread attention from the metallurgy and materials science community. (Please check https://www.mdpi.com/journal/crystals/special_issues/2570V36CKU). We invite the submission of contributions to a third volume of this issue to continue the collection of research and review articles on the crystallization of high-performance metallic materials. Crystallization refers to the process by which a solid phase forms, where atoms or molecules are highly organized into a known structure, such as a crystal in the matrix. The crystallization of metallic materials typically refers to the solid form during solidification and the subsequent transition phase. Several fundamental aspects of thermodynamics and kinetics need to be considered for the crystallization mechanism. During the solidification process, a variety of crystalline morphologies can be observed, such as columnar and equiaxed crystals and dendrites. This understanding of solidification can be applied to the casting process as an industrial crystallization. Subsequently, crystallization behaviours can also refer to the evolution of microstructures in solid-state materials, e.g., austenite decomposition in low-alloy steels. Nucleation and growth, as well as interfacial phenomena, are two scientific issues in the crystallization process. The current Special Issue focuses on crystallization behaviours in high-performance metallic materials. Both solidification and solid-phase transformation are considered, and conventional construction materials (steel or high-temperature alloys) and novel alloy grades (high-entropy alloys) are included. State-of-the-art characterization methods as well as simulation and modelling work regarding crystallization are included. Finally, particle behaviours associated with crystallization, i.e., non-metallic inclusion and precipitate behaviours during solidification and post-processing in high-performance alloys, are included. In addition, considerations are given to the crystallization of slag and the heat flux used during metal manufacturing. Authors from academia and the industry are, therefore, invited to submit their original research and review contributions on the crystallization of high-performance metallic materials to the current Special Issue.

Dr. Wangzhong Mu
Dr. Chen Chao
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • solidification of steel and alloys
  • casting process
  • solid phase transformation
  • high-performance metallic materials
  • in situ characterization
  • nucleation and growth in metals
  • inclusion/precipitate engineering in steel and alloys
  • slag and flux engineering
  • thermodynamics and kinetics of crystallization
  • process–structure–property correlation in alloys

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 3869 KB  
Article
Multi-Scale Characterization of Industrial Steel Slags Using XRF and SEM–EDS Phase Mapping
by Okhunjon Sayfidinov, Susheng Tan, Bakhtiyor Mardonov, Makhliyo Sayfidinova and Baibhaw Kumar
Crystals 2026, 16(4), 246; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst16040246 - 7 Apr 2026
Viewed by 454
Abstract
Steel slags are major by-products of steelmaking, and their variable composition complicates recycling and valorization strategies. This study investigates four representative slag samples obtained from different production pathways at an industrial steel plant in Uzbekistan, using a combined multi-scale characterization approach. Bulk elemental [...] Read more.
Steel slags are major by-products of steelmaking, and their variable composition complicates recycling and valorization strategies. This study investigates four representative slag samples obtained from different production pathways at an industrial steel plant in Uzbekistan, using a combined multi-scale characterization approach. Bulk elemental composition was determined using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), while microstructural and phase-level analysis was carried out using scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS), including both point analysis and automated phase mapping. The XRF results revealed two distinct compositional groups, with one slag dominated by Mn–Si–O chemistry and three slags characterized by high Ca content. SEM–EDS phase mapping further resolved these differences at the microscale, identifying manganese silicate and oxide phases in the Mn-rich slag, Ca–F–O dominant phases in two slags associated with fluorite flux addition, and a more heterogeneous Ca-based system with localized enrichments of Mn, Zn, and Cu in the fourth sample. The combined results demonstrate that slag composition strongly reflects steel grade and fluxing practice. The integration of XRF and SEM–EDS provides a robust framework for linking bulk chemistry with phase distribution, improving slag classification and supporting informed decisions for reuse and environmental management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crystallization of High-Performance Metallic Materials (3rd Edition))
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20 pages, 18226 KB  
Article
Study on Stress Corrosion Resistance of Multiphase Composite Nanobainitic Steel via Isothermal Treatment
by Qian Yang, Jing Zhao, Junjie Wang, Yanru Zhang, Yanhui Wang, Qiang Li, Wanshuo Sun, Yanling Sun, Wei Xiong, Huafeng Ding, Zhanbing Wang and Mingkun Xu
Crystals 2026, 16(2), 151; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst16020151 - 21 Feb 2026
Viewed by 316
Abstract
This study examines the electrochemical behavior and slow strain rate tensile (SSRT) properties of 67Si2CrNiAlMnMoCu steel featuring a multiphase nanobainitic microstructure consisting of bainitic ferrite (BF), retained austenite (RA), and martensite (M). Electrochemical measurements reveal that both the corrosion tendency and dissolution rate [...] Read more.
This study examines the electrochemical behavior and slow strain rate tensile (SSRT) properties of 67Si2CrNiAlMnMoCu steel featuring a multiphase nanobainitic microstructure consisting of bainitic ferrite (BF), retained austenite (RA), and martensite (M). Electrochemical measurements reveal that both the corrosion tendency and dissolution rate decrease with extended austempering time, with the sample austempered at 220 °C for 21 h showing the lowest corrosion susceptibility. SSRT results indicate that specimens with a nearly fully bainitic microstructure exhibit increased strength sensitivity to stress corrosion. Notably, the specimen austempered at 240 °C for 9 h demonstrates excellent corrosion resistance while retaining favorable overall mechanical properties, exhibiting a tensile strength-based stress corrosion cracking sensitivity coefficient as low as 4.1%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crystallization of High-Performance Metallic Materials (3rd Edition))
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13 pages, 2273 KB  
Article
The Effect of Electrolytic-Plasma Hardening Time on the Microstructure, Hardness, and Corrosion Behavior of Medium-Carbon Steel
by Yeldos Mukhametov, Aibek Shynarbek, Bauyrzhan Rakhadilov, Ainur Zhassulan, Nadir Ibragimov, Kuanysh Ormanbekov and Nurlat Kadyrbolat
Crystals 2025, 15(12), 1058; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst15121058 - 13 Dec 2025
Viewed by 585
Abstract
This study investigates the effect of electrolytic-plasma hardening time on the microstructure formation, hardness distribution, and corrosion behavior of grade 45 structural steel. The treatment was performed in a 15% aqueous sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) solution at an applied voltage [...] Read more.
This study investigates the effect of electrolytic-plasma hardening time on the microstructure formation, hardness distribution, and corrosion behavior of grade 45 structural steel. The treatment was performed in a 15% aqueous sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) solution at an applied voltage of 300 V for different holding times (8, 10, and 12 s). Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses revealed that increasing the EPH duration promotes the formation of a more uniform martensitic layer and reduces the amount of residual cementite. Microhardness measurements showed an increase in surface hardness from 190 HV for the untreated steel to 770 HV after the longest treatment. The cross-sectional hardness profile indicated the presence of a thin decarburized sublayer and a zone of maximum hardness corresponding to the martensitic structure. Potentiodynamic polarization tests in a 0.5 M NaCl solution showed a slight increase in corrosion current density after treatment; however, the corrosion rate remained within the range of 0.19–0.45 mm year−1, confirming the satisfactory corrosion resistance of the hardened layer. The results demonstrate that controlling the EPH duration allows for optimizing the balance between enhanced hardness and maintained corrosion resistance of grade 45 steel. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crystallization of High-Performance Metallic Materials (3rd Edition))
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17 pages, 10887 KB  
Article
The Effect of Bulk Nucleation Parameters on the Solidification Structure of Large Slabs During Electroslag Remelting and Optimization of Production Process Parameters
by Qi Li, Yu Du, Zhenquan Jing and Yanhui Sun
Crystals 2025, 15(12), 1052; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst15121052 - 11 Dec 2025
Viewed by 505
Abstract
In this paper, the moving heat transfer boundary method is adopted to establish a three-dimensional solidification microstructure model based on the coupling technology of the cellular automata method (CA) and finite element method (FE), simulate the ingot growth process, and optimize the nucleation [...] Read more.
In this paper, the moving heat transfer boundary method is adopted to establish a three-dimensional solidification microstructure model based on the coupling technology of the cellular automata method (CA) and finite element method (FE), simulate the ingot growth process, and optimize the nucleation parameters. In addition, this study also explored the influence of process parameters such as melting rate, molten pool temperature, and cooling intensity on the solidification structure of ingots, providing a theoretical basis for process optimization. The results show that the maximum nucleation undercooling degree and the maximum nucleation density have significant effects on different crystal regions of the ingot solidification structure, while the maximum nucleation variance has no obvious effect on the changes in the solidification structure. When the maximum bulk nucleus undercooling degree ΔTv,max = 4 K, the bulk nucleus standard deviation ΔTv,σ = 5 K, and the maximum bulk nucleus density nv,max = 3 × 107, the simulation results of the solidification structure can be well consistent with the experimental results. With the increase in smelting speed, the number of grains in the ingot structure gradually increases, while the average area of grains gradually decreases. The melting temperature and the intensity of side wall cooling have no obvious influence on the solidification structure of the ingot. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crystallization of High-Performance Metallic Materials (3rd Edition))
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