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Fundamental Metallurgy: From Impact Solutions to New Insight
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Fundamental Metallurgy: From Impact Solutions to New Insight

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Metals and Alloys".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 March 2026 | Viewed by 3438

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Adam Cwudziński

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Guest Editor
Department of Metallurgy and Metals Technology, Czestochowa University of Technology, Czestochowa, Poland
Interests: iron and steel extractive metallurgy; continuous casting; tundish metallurgy; physical and numerical modeling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Chao Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China
Interests: process modeling; clean steel; inclusions; CFD; physical model; tundish; ladle refining; stainless steel
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Metal technologies are important in advanced industries, where iron, aluminium, and copper are used as basic materials. Moreover, many metals are fundamental in the production of microprocessors, catalysts, solid oxide electrolyser cells, and solar panels. In the full production cycle, the basic sources of metals are ores. However, metals are materials that can be completely recovered using multi-stage technologies and used again. Pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical technologies allow the production of alloys or metals with poli- or mono-crystalline structures. Moreover, on different scales, metal technologies can develop advanced properties for strategic products. Currently, advanced numerical models based on fluid mechanics and thermodynamics offer new insights into improving classical technologies. Moreover, advanced physical simulators are successfully validating numerical model results and, together with industry trials, are paving the way for future solutions.

For this Special Issue, submissions of original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include, but are not limited to, the following: tundish metallurgy, secondary refining, continuous casting, clean steel technologies, refractories, converter and electric arc furnace steelmaking, and metallurgical equipment development. We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Adam Cwudziński
Dr. Chao Chen
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-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2600 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

  • smelting
  • direct reductions
  • treatment technologies
  • casting
  • leaching
  • electrowinning and refining
  • welding
  • spinning
  • deposition technologies
  • atomisation technologies

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

9 pages, 1428 KB  
Communication
Nitrogen Enables Superior Strength–Ductility Synergy in Ultra-Low Carbon Steel via Copious Interphase Precipitation and Grain Refinement
by Qing Zhu, Rui Cao, Shuai Xu, Junheng Gao, Haitao Zhao, Qingxiao Feng, Hualong Li, Yixin Shi, Honghui Wu, Chaolei Zhang, Yuhe Huang, Jun Lu, Shuize Wang and Xinping Mao
Materials 2026, 19(3), 622; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19030622 - 6 Feb 2026
Viewed by 342
Abstract
The increasing use of electric arc furnace (EAF) in steelmaking inevitably elevates nitrogen (N) levels, which are traditionally regarded as a detrimental element to the formability of ultra-low carbon (ULC) steels due to the formation of Lüders band. Here, we demonstrate that N [...] Read more.
The increasing use of electric arc furnace (EAF) in steelmaking inevitably elevates nitrogen (N) levels, which are traditionally regarded as a detrimental element to the formability of ultra-low carbon (ULC) steels due to the formation of Lüders band. Here, we demonstrate that N could act as a beneficial microalloying element in strip casting ULC steels by promoting V(C, N) precipitation and grain refinement of ferrite. Thermodynamic calculations reveal that N significantly increases both the equilibrium volume fraction and equilibrium precipitation temperature of V(C, N), enabling copious interphase nanoprecipitation during ferrite transformation. Microstructural characterization confirms the enhanced formation of V(C, N) within interphase rows in the N-containing steels, leading to greater Zener pinning effect and smaller ferrite grain size (from 7.50 μm of 0N to 4.67 μm of 96 ppm N and 3.84 μm of 139 ppm N). As a result, owing to the enhanced nanoprecipitation and grain refinement, the N-containing ULC strip casting steels exhibit a superior strength–ductility synergy, with tensile strength increased from 666 MPa (0N) to 805 MPa (96 ppm N) and 825 MPa (139 ppm N), and a slight decrease in total elongation from 29.8% (0N) to 27.3% (96 ppm N) and 22.0% (139 ppm N). In addition, no Lüders plateau was observed in the tensile stress-strain curves as the extensive formation of V(C, N) consumed the N atoms in solid solution. These findings highlight that microalloying V in the steels produced by EAF can effectively leverage the high N content for achieving superior strength–ductility synergy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fundamental Metallurgy: From Impact Solutions to New Insight)
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16 pages, 5467 KB  
Article
Enhancing the Mechanical Performance of Laser Powder Bed Fusion Prepared 316L Stainless Steel by Deformation Post-Processing at Ambient Temperature
by Radim Kocich and Lenka Kunčická
Materials 2026, 19(3), 615; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19030615 - 5 Feb 2026
Viewed by 339
Abstract
Preparation of metallic materials via laser powder bed fusion has gained high popularity primarily due to the versatility of the processed materials and the complexity of the available component geometries. However, the prepared components feature characteristic shortcomings. Among the ways to successfully reduce/eliminate [...] Read more.
Preparation of metallic materials via laser powder bed fusion has gained high popularity primarily due to the versatility of the processed materials and the complexity of the available component geometries. However, the prepared components feature characteristic shortcomings. Among the ways to successfully reduce/eliminate printing issues and homogenize the properties within additively prepared materials is optimized post-processing. In this study, we present the positive effects of deformation post-processing at ambient (room) temperature on the microstructure and mechanical properties of AISI 316L stainless steel prepared by laser powder bed fusion. The post-processing was performed by the industrially applicable method of rotary swaging, for which varying swaging degrees were applied. The selected swaging degree influenced primarily the interactions between the dynamic strengthening and softening processes and consequently the strength/plasticity ratio, although all the applied swaging degrees successfully eliminated the residual porosity and imparted (sub)structure development and grain refinement. The ultimate tensile strength (UTS) for the original workpiece was 282 MPa, and it increased up to more than 1400 MPa after the final swaging while maintaining favorable plasticity (elongation to failure over 30%). The study thus proposes a way to successfully enhance the performance of additively manufactured AISI 316L steel with the use of a commercially applicable plastic deformation technology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fundamental Metallurgy: From Impact Solutions to New Insight)
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21 pages, 5184 KB  
Article
Effect of Argon Injection into the Down-Leg of RH on the Inclusion Removal in Industrial Trials
by Yukang Pan, Yanhui Sun, Yang He, Xiaodong Yang, Baohui Yuan and Jianhua Liu
Materials 2026, 19(2), 244; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19020244 - 7 Jan 2026
Viewed by 348
Abstract
The novel industrial trial is conducted to investigate the effect of argon injection into the down-leg of the RH degasser on the inclusion removal. The ‘cold steel plate dipping’ is used to take samples of molten steel and argon bubbles from the RH [...] Read more.
The novel industrial trial is conducted to investigate the effect of argon injection into the down-leg of the RH degasser on the inclusion removal. The ‘cold steel plate dipping’ is used to take samples of molten steel and argon bubbles from the RH ladle. The industrial CT detection and electron microscope observation are applied to analyze the bubble characteristics. The results show that the size of bubbles generated by argon injection in the down-leg ranges from 7 to 1430 μm. Among them, the number density of bubbles with a diameter of 60 μm is the largest, reaching 0.1 per mm3. After adopting the down-leg argon injection technology, the average oxygen activity at the end of the RH process decreases by 2.35 ppm, and the surface defects of cold-rolled sheets of all grades are reduced. Based on the theoretical analysis of bubble collision and adhesion to inclusions, the small-sized bubbles have a relatively high capture probability for inclusions smaller than 10 μm. Comprehensively analyzing the experimental results, it is found that the down-leg argon injection technology has an obvious effect on removing inclusions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fundamental Metallurgy: From Impact Solutions to New Insight)
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15 pages, 3301 KB  
Article
Influence of Novel “Umbrella”-Type Ladle Shroud on Liquid Steel Flow in a Two-Strand Slab Tundish: Physical and Numerical Modelling
by Adam Cwudziński, Lukáš Fogaraš, Jaroslav Demeter, Peter Demeter and Branislav Buľko
Materials 2026, 19(1), 96; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19010096 - 26 Dec 2025
Viewed by 417
Abstract
In this paper, the influence of the novel design of a ladle shroud (LS) on the liquid steel flow structure inside the working volume of a two-strand slab tundish was assessed, determining the best solutions for LS use to achieve the optimal level [...] Read more.
In this paper, the influence of the novel design of a ladle shroud (LS) on the liquid steel flow structure inside the working volume of a two-strand slab tundish was assessed, determining the best solutions for LS use to achieve the optimal level of active flow zones and protect the tundish lining. A 0.33 scale water model was used for physical experiments. Numerical simulations were carried out in the Ansys-Fluent 12.1 software for a 1:1 scale tundish. The effect of the influence of LS type, LS immersion depth, LS side ports position, LS misalignment and casting speed was examined. Finally, the use of the “umbrella” ladle shroud allows stable hydrodynamics to be maintained even with shroud misalignment. Moreover, the “umbrella” ladle shroud effectively decreases the average velocity of liquid steel inside the tundish and significantly decreases shear stresses and dynamic pressure at the tundish lining in the tundish pouring area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fundamental Metallurgy: From Impact Solutions to New Insight)
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Graphical abstract

12 pages, 1625 KB  
Communication
Prediction of Multiphase Flow in Ruhrstahl–Heraeus (RH) Reactor
by Han Zhang, Hong Lei, Yuanxin Jiang, Yili Sun, Shuai Zeng and Shifu Chen
Materials 2025, 18(13), 3149; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18133149 - 2 Jul 2025
Viewed by 776
Abstract
Splashed droplets in the vacuum chamber play an important role in decarburization and degassing in Ruhrstahl–Heraeus (RH), but the scholars do not pay attention to the behaviors of splashed droplets. Thus, it is necessary to propose a new method to investigate the splashed [...] Read more.
Splashed droplets in the vacuum chamber play an important role in decarburization and degassing in Ruhrstahl–Heraeus (RH), but the scholars do not pay attention to the behaviors of splashed droplets. Thus, it is necessary to propose a new method to investigate the splashed droplets. A Euler–Euler model and the inter-phase momentum transfer are applied to investigate the interaction between the molten steel and the bubbles, and the gas domain in the vacuum chamber is included in the computational domain in order to describe the movement of the splashed droplets. Numerical results show that the flow field predicted by Euler–Euler model agrees well with the experimental data. There is a higher gas volume fraction near the up-snorkel wall, the “fountain” formed by the upward flow from the up-snorkel exceeds 0.1 m above the free surface, and the center of the vortex between the upward stream and the downward stream is closer to the upward stream in the vacuum chamber. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fundamental Metallurgy: From Impact Solutions to New Insight)
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15 pages, 4286 KB  
Article
Numerical Modeling and Thermovision Camera Measurement of Blast Furnace Raceway Dynamics
by Sailesh Kesavan, Joakim Eck, Lars-Erik From, Maria Lundgren, Lena Sundqvist Öqvist and Martin Kjellberg
Materials 2025, 18(13), 3061; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18133061 - 27 Jun 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 752
Abstract
The blast furnace (BF) and basic oxygen route account for approximately 70% of the global steel production and create 1.8 tons of CO2 per ton of steel, produced primarily due to the use of coke and pulverized coal (PC) at the BF. [...] Read more.
The blast furnace (BF) and basic oxygen route account for approximately 70% of the global steel production and create 1.8 tons of CO2 per ton of steel, produced primarily due to the use of coke and pulverized coal (PC) at the BF. With global pressure to reduce CO2 emissions, optimization of BF operation is crucial, which is possible through optimizing fuel consumption, and improving process stability. Understanding the complex combustion and flow dynamics in the raceway region is essential for enhancing reducing agent utilization. Modeling plays a key role in predicting these behaviors and providing insights into the process; however, validation of these models is crucial for their reliability but difficult in the complex and hostile BF raceway region. In this study, a validated raceway model developed at Swerim was used to evaluate four different cases, namely R1 (Reference), R2 (Low oxygen to blast), R3 (High blast moisture), and R4 (High PC) using an injection coal from SSAB Oxelösund. During actual experiments, the temperature distribution in the raceway was measured using a thermovision camera (TVC) to validate the CFD simulation results. The combined use aims to cross-validate the results simultaneously to establish a reliable framework for future parametric studies of raceway behavior under varying operational conditions using CFD simulations The results indicated that it is possible to measure the temperature within the raceway region using TVC at depths indicated to be 0.5–0.7 m, when not obscured by the coal plume, or <0.5 m, when obscured. TVC measurements are clearly quantitatively affected when obscured, indicated by considerably lower temperatures in the order of 200 °C between similar process conditions. A decrease of O2 injection results in an extended raceway region as the conditions become less chemically favorable for combustion due to a lower reactant content offsetting the ignition point and reducing the reaction rate in the raceway. An increased moisture content in the blast results in a reduced size of the race-way region as energy is consumed as latent energy and cracks water. An increase in PC rate results in a larger/wider raceway region, as more PC is devolatilized and combusted early on, resulting in larger gas volumes expanding the raceway region outwards, perpendicular to the injection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fundamental Metallurgy: From Impact Solutions to New Insight)
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