Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Materials Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

Advanced High-Performance Metals and Alloys: Microstructural Evolution, Mechanical Properties, and Strengthening Mechanisms

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
Published Papers

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 October 2026 | Viewed by 3307

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Guobing Wei

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

College of Materials Science and Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
Interests: metallic materials; mechanical properties; numerical modeling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Xi Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant

Henan Province Engineering Research Center of Additive Manufacturing Aeronautical Materials, Nanyang Institute of Technology 1 , Nanyang 473004, China
Interests: high-entropy alloys; surface treatment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Advanced high-performance metals and alloys are essential in various engineering applications due to their outstanding mechanical properties and versatility. The microstructural evolution in these materials significantly influences their performance characteristics, making it vital to study these phenomena for the development of new alloys and the enhancement of existing ones. We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this important field of research.

This Special Issue aims to compile cutting-edge research on the microstructural evolution, mechanical properties, and strengthening mechanisms of advanced high-performance metals and alloys. It will highlight the latest advancements in the field and provide insights into the relationship between microstructural features and material performance. This topic aligns well with the journal's scope, which focuses on materials science and engineering. Our goal is to gather at least 10 articles, with the potential for the Special Issue to be printed in book form if this target is met.

In this Special Issue, we welcome original research articles and comprehensive reviews. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

- Microstructural characterization techniques;

- Mechanical testing and property evaluation;

- Strengthening mechanisms in metals and alloys;

- Theoretical and computational modeling of microstructural changes;

- Correlation between processing, microstructure, and performance.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Guobing Wei
Guest Editor

Dr. Xi Zhang
Guest Editor Assistant

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

advanced metals
high-performance alloys
microstructural evolution
mechanical properties
strengthening mechanisms
alloy design
phase transformation

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (6 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

15 pages, 4770 KB

Open AccessArticle

Strength–Ductility Synergy and Microscopic Mechanism of CNTs-Reinforced Mg-Al Composites Fabricated Through Vacuum Powder Metallurgy Coupled with Hot Extrusion–Rolling

by Shiwei Ma, Guo Li, Ning Zhang, Shaojian Huang, Hao Chen, Guobing Wei and Jinxing Wang

Materials 2026, 19(8), 1537; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19081537 - 12 Apr 2026

Viewed by 492

Abstract

The low absolute strength and insufficient room-temperature ductility remain key bottlenecks that restrict the engineering application of magnesium alloys in high-end industrial fields. In the present study, 1 vol.% carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-reinforced Mg-xAl (x = 0, 1, and 1.5 wt.%) composites were synthesized via a powder metallurgy route coupled with hot extrusion–rolling processing to realize a simultaneous improvement in mechanical properties. The hot extrusion–rolling processed 1 vol.% CNTs/Mg-1Al composite exhibits an ultimate tensile strength of 300 MPa and an elongation to failure of 9%, showing an excellent strength–ductility synergy. Microstructural characterization reveals a well-bonded interface between CNTs and the Mg matrix. Deformation incompatibility between CNTs and the magnesium matrix during hot extrusion–rolling induces a high density of dislocations, providing an important strengthening contribution. Moreover, an increased proportion of low-angle grain boundaries and the development of a bimodal texture promote significant grain refinement and effectively activate non-basal slip systems, thereby alleviating plastic deformation constraints. The synergistic effects of interfacial strengthening, dislocation strengthening, grain boundary strengthening, and texture regulation together contribute to the simultaneous improvement of strength and ductility in CNTs-reinforced Mg-Al composites. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced High-Performance Metals and Alloys: Microstructural Evolution, Mechanical Properties, and Strengthening Mechanisms)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

25 pages, 11567 KB

Open AccessArticle

Microstructural Evolution and Mechanical Properties of LPBF Ti-6Al-4V with Different Process Parameters

by Yuxin Shuai, Jie Liu, Jing Zhu, Zhichao Huang, Wenhao Zha, Yi Yang, Ruifeng Zhang and Kai Zhang

Materials 2026, 19(6), 1049; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19061049 - 10 Mar 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 530

Abstract

Although processing windows have been widely reported for LPBF Ti-6Al-4V, the distinct roles of laser power, scanning speed, and hatch distance remain unclear beyond VED-based comparisons. In this work, the distinct effects of laser power, scanning speed, and hatch distance on the microstructural evolution and mechanical response of laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) Ti-6Al-4V (Ti64) are investigated within a stable processing window with comparisons among different parameter combinations at a comparable VED. A total of 56 processing conditions were designed, and microstructure/texture and properties were characterized by OM/SEM, EBSD, microhardness (HV0.5), and hole-drilling residual stress measurements. Within the selected processing window, prior-β grain morphology, α’ martensite thickness, texture, microhardness, and residual stress exhibit distinct sensitivities to different processing parameters. Specifically, lower scanning speeds and smaller hatch distances promote more continuous <001>β epitaxial growth, whereas higher scanning speeds or larger hatch distances produce fragmented prior-β grains. The α’ lath thickness shows the strongest dependence on scanning speed with a secondary influence from hatch distance, while laser power mainly provides an overall thermal modulation. Furthermore, the macroscopic α (0002) texture is mainly governed by the β solidification texture, with α-variant selection playing a secondary, amplifying role. In addition, microhardness correlates with α’ martensite thickness following a Hall–Petch equation. The peak residual stress is more sensitive to scanning speed, while bulk residual stress varies more significantly with hatch distance. These findings demonstrate that process parameters, in addition to VED, can guide microstructural control and mechanical optimization in LPBF Ti64 alloy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced High-Performance Metals and Alloys: Microstructural Evolution, Mechanical Properties, and Strengthening Mechanisms)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 2885 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Growth Orientation on the Standard Heat Treatment Microstructure of Nickel-Based Single-Crystal Superalloy DD6

by Zhenyu Yang, Xiaogong Liu, Ji Wang, Zhiqiang Yang, Songsong Hu, Jian Zhang, Yushi Luo and Shenglong Dai

Materials 2026, 19(4), 800; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19040800 - 18 Feb 2026

Viewed by 464

Abstract

Using the seeding method, nickel-based single-crystal superalloy DD6 specimens with different growth orientations were prepared in a liquid metal cooling (LMC) directional solidification furnace. Subsequent standard heat treatment was carried out, and the influence of growth orientation on the microstructure of the (001) crystal plane of the alloy after heat treatment was investigated. Results show that with the increase in growth orientation deviation angle from the <001> orientation, the area fraction of residual eutectic content is reduced, the average size and volume of pore and γ′ strengthening phase increase, and the cubicity of the γ′ strengthening phase decreases. The growth orientation does not significantly affect the morphology of residual eutectic content or the morphology of the strengthening phase of the γ′ in the dendrite cores and interdendrite regions. However, the size uniformity of the γ′ strengthening phase in dendrite cores and the width of the γ matrix channels decrease as the growth orientation deviation angle increases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced High-Performance Metals and Alloys: Microstructural Evolution, Mechanical Properties, and Strengthening Mechanisms)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 6005 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Tempering Temperature on the Microstructure and Properties of a Novel High-Temperature Bearing Steel

by Kai Zheng, Hui Wang, Feng Yu, Shuangping Lin, Zhenqian Zhong, Cunyu Wang, Jianxiong Liang and Wenquan Cao

Materials 2026, 19(2), 443; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19020443 - 22 Jan 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 355

Abstract

The microstructure, precipitation behavior, and mechanical properties of an ultrahigh-strength stainless bearing steel after tempering were investigated using multiscale characterization techniques along with tensile and impact testing. Based on the experimental results, strengthening and toughening mechanisms are discussed. The findings indicate that in samples tempered between 450 °C and 540 °C, tensile strength increases while impact toughness decreases. This is primarily attributed to the precipitation of M₆C and M₂C carbides and a reduction in dislocation density. In contrast, after tempering at 580 °C, the formation of increasing amounts of thick film-like reverted austenite along lath and twin boundaries results in a slight decline in tensile strength accompanied by improved elongation. The dominant strengthening mechanism for samples tempered between 450 °C and 500 °C is the synergistic effect of dislocation strengthening and precipitation strengthening. Above 520 °C, precipitation strengthening becomes the primary mechanism. However, the coarsening of acicular or lamellar M₂C carbides during precipitation appears to significantly degrade toughness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced High-Performance Metals and Alloys: Microstructural Evolution, Mechanical Properties, and Strengthening Mechanisms)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 14803 KB

Open AccessArticle

Creep Behavior and Its Influencing Factors in High-Entropy Superalloys: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study

by Kangning Han, Qiuju Wang, Yaxin Zhu, Shulin Yuan, Changwei Wang, Shuang Liang and Lv Zhao

Materials 2026, 19(2), 233; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19020233 - 7 Jan 2026

Viewed by 451

Abstract

In aero-engine applications, turbine blades operate under high-temperature and high-pressure thermomechanical cyclic loading conditions, which demand exceptional mechanical performance. High-entropy superalloys, characterized by a stable dual-phase γ/γ′ microstructure, have emerged as promising candidates for high-temperature structural materials due to their superior creep resistance. In this study, the creep behaviors of high-entropy superalloys are systematically investigated using molecular dynamics simulations, exploring the effects of stress, temperature, γ/γ′ lattice misfit, and γ′ volume fraction on creep deformation mechanisms. The results show that both stress and temperature significantly influence creep behavior, with temperature exerting a more dominant effect. As the applied stress increases, the dominant creep mechanism evolves from atomic diffusion to dislocation nucleation and motion, eventually leading to phase transformation. Additionally, the γ/γ′ lattice misfit and γ′ volume fraction are found to critically affect the alloy’s creep resistance. Specifically, creep resistance initially increases and then decreases with increasing lattice misfit magnitude, while a negative misfit yields better performance than a positive one. Moreover, increasing the γ′ volume fraction enhances the alloy’s ability to resist creep deformation. Microstructural analysis and atomic diffusion data further reveal that the creep resistance of high-entropy superalloys is closely associated with the structural stability of the γ/γ′ dual-phase system. These findings provide useful insights for optimizing the high-temperature performance of high-entropy superalloys through microstructural design. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced High-Performance Metals and Alloys: Microstructural Evolution, Mechanical Properties, and Strengthening Mechanisms)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Review

Jump to: Research

24 pages, 2360 KB

Open AccessReview

Research Progress on the Influence of Surface Treatment Techniques on Fatigue Properties of Titanium Alloys

by Baicheng Liu, Hongliang Zhang, Xugang Wang, Yubao Li, Shenghan Li, Xue Cui, Yurii Luhovskyi and Zhisheng Nong

Materials 2026, 19(8), 1511; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19081511 - 9 Apr 2026

Viewed by 452

Abstract

Titanium alloys exhibit exceptional strength-to-density ratios, high hardness, and outstanding resistance to elevated temperatures, making them indispensable structural materials in aerospace engineering, marine construction, and biomedical applications. In aerospace systems specifically, fatigue failure represents the predominant failure mode for titanium alloy components. This review systematically examines prevalent surface treatment techniques for titanium alloys—including shot peening, ultrasonic rolling treatment, hot isostatic pressing (HIP), physical vapor deposition (PVD), micro-arc oxidation (MAO), and thermal spray processes—and critically evaluates their respective effects on fatigue performance. The underlying mechanisms of each technique are concisely outlined, with emphasis on stress state evolution, near-surface microstructural refinement, and interfacial integrity. Building upon the characteristic surface-dominated fatigue fracture behavior of titanium alloys, this work focuses on how coating composition, architecture (e.g., graded, multilayer, or nanocomposite designs), and interfacial bonding strength govern fatigue resistance. A unified analysis is presented on the distinct yet complementary roles of substrate deformation strengthening (e.g., residual compression, grain refinement) and coating-mediated protection (e.g., barrier function, crack deflection, stress redistribution) during fatigue crack initiation and propagation. Key determinants of fatigue performance, including residual stress distribution, coating/substrate adhesion, thermal mismatch, and environmental degradation susceptibility, are rigorously assessed. Finally, emerging research frontiers are identified, including intelligent process–structure–property mapping, in situ monitoring of fatigue damage at coated interfaces, and design of multifunctional gradient coatings that synergistically enhance strength, wear resistance, and fatigue endurance of titanium alloy components. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced High-Performance Metals and Alloys: Microstructural Evolution, Mechanical Properties, and Strengthening Mechanisms)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Advanced High-Performance Metals and Alloys: Microstructural Evolution, Mechanical Properties, and Strengthening Mechanisms

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (6 papers)

Research

Review

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI