Microstructure and Properties of Steel Materials
A special issue of Crystals (ISSN 2073-4352). This special issue belongs to the section "Crystalline Metals and Alloys".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 1299
Editors
Interests: additive manufacturing; steel; phase transformation; mechanical properties; dynamic mechanical behavior; machine learning
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: steel; phase transformation; mechanical properties; crystallography; additive manufacturing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: advanced high strength steel; microstructure characterization; phase transformation; mechanical properties
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Steel remains the backbone of modern industry, essential for the construction, transportation, and energy sectors. Its unparalleled versatility stems from the profound relationship among its processing, resulting microstructure, and final properties. Understanding and controlling microstructural features—from phase fractions and grain size to precipitate distribution and dislocation density—are key to tailoring performance.
The ongoing pursuit of enhanced mechanical properties, such as strength, ductility, and toughness, is now coupled with increasingly critical demands for durability and sustainability. Resistance to degradation phenomena like corrosion and hydrogen embrittlement is paramount for safety and longevity in harsh environments. Furthermore, the advent of novel material-processing routes, particularly additive manufacturing, is revolutionizing steel production. These innovative techniques introduce unique thermal cycles and non-equilibrium microstructures, presenting both new challenges and opportunities for property optimization that demand thorough scientific investigation.
This Special Issue aims to compile high-quality research and review articles that address these interconnected themes. We welcome contributions that investigate the interplay among processing, microstructure, and properties in steels, utilizing experimental, theoretical, and computational approaches. Specific topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Phase transformations: thermodynamics, kinetics, and crystallography.
- Relationship between microstructure and mechanical properties.
- Degradation mechanisms, including corrosion and hydrogen embrittlement.
- Microstructure and property engineering through conventional and advanced material processing.
- Effects of additive manufacturing on the microstructure and performance of steel components.
By providing a platform for the presentation of the latest advancements, this Special Issue will foster discussion and inspire future innovations in science and technology surrounding this indispensable material.
Dr. Shilong Liu
Dr. Yishuang Yu
Dr. Qizhe Ye
Dr. Yangxin Wang
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Crystals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- steel
- microstructure
- phase transformation
- mechanical properties
- corrosion
- hydrogen embrittlement
- materials processing
- additive manufacturing
- machine learning
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