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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2026 | Viewed by 4435

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Xiaogang Li

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Guest Editor

Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Interests: corrosion; alloy design; microstructure; mechanical property; welding; fracture and failure
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Zulfiqar Ahmad Khan

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Guest Editor

NanoCorr, Energy & Modelling (NCEM) Research Group, Department of Design & Engineering, Bournemouth University, Dorset BH12 5BB, UK
Interests: multidisciplinary research in wear-corrosion synergy; nano-coating incorporating tribo-corrosion issues; thermodynamics and numerical modelling; sustainable methodologies of preventing corrosion and coating failures in large complex interacting systems; nanocomposite coatings for tribological applications; energy generation; conversion and storage
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The success of our previous two editions of the Special Issue, titled “Corrosion Behavior and Mechanical Properties of Metallic Materials”, shows that the issues of corrosion are still relevant and require further research. Therefore, we are organizing a second edition of this Special Issue under the same title that will further present state-of-the-art advances in corrosion behavior and mechanical properties of metallic materials.

Worldwide, more than USD 400 million/year is spent on corrosion protection and productivity losses due to corrosion. Corrosion, a process associated with chemical/electrochemical reactions, often has a deleterious consequence on mechanical properties, ultimately resulting in the degradation of a material. Metallic components, widely employed in various industries, i.e., oil, gas, marine, nuclear, fuel cells, medicine and generate electricity, often suffer from severe corrosion, which might be detrimental to service life and even cause serious accidents. Meanwhile, some extreme corrosive environments are also the main restriction on applications of advanced metallic materials with excellent mechanical properties. Thus, understanding corrosion behavior and its effect on mechanical properties will be of great practical significance to the development and application of metallic materials. Corrosion behavior leads to the degradation of mechanical properties, and both are affected by the service environment and the physical and chemical properties of the material itself.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to provide a research forum to report corrosion behavior as well as the related mechanical properties, chemical composition and microstructure for metallic materials to address existing corrosion challenges and assist in the development of super corrosion-resistant materials.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the studies mentioned above. Other relevant studies, such as hydrogen embrittlement, characterization of the corroded microstructure, corrosion mechanism of advanced materials, method of surface treatment to improve corrosion resistance, evolution mechanism of mechanical properties in corrosion environment, and design of novel corrosion-resistant material, will also be considered, which could enhance the knowledge of corrosion protection. Research articles and reviews in this area of study are welcome.

We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions.

Dr. Xiaogang Li
Prof. Dr. Zulfiqar Ahmad Khan
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

metallic materials
corrosion behavior
mechanical properties
microstructure
anti-corrosion methods
corrosion-resistant material
hydrogen embrittlement
electrochemical reaction

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Related Special Issues

Corrosion Behavior and Mechanical Properties of Metallic Materials in Materials (22 articles)
Corrosion Behavior and Mechanical Properties of Metallic Materials (Second Edition) in Materials (10 articles)

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

24 pages, 5744 KB

Open AccessArticle

Study of Localized Corrosion Susceptibility of Ni-Based Superalloys Employing Electrochemical Noise Technique

by Facundo Almeraya-Calderon, Miguel Sergio Huerta-Zavala, Erick Maldonado-Bandala, Demetrio Nieves-Mendoza, Jesus Manuel Jaquez-Muñoz, Miguel Angel Baltazar-Zamora, Laura Landa-Ruiz, Francisco Estupinan-Lopez, Javier Olguin-Coca, Juan Pablo Flores-De los Rios and Citlalli Gaona-Tiburcio

Materials 2026, 19(11), 2424; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19112424 - 5 Jun 2026

Viewed by 256

Abstract

Inconel superalloys are employed in demanding components of different equipment. However, they can be exposed to atmospheric corrosion systems, such as marine and industrial environments. This research is focused on studying the localized corrosion susceptibility of Inconel 600, 690 and 718 exposed to H₂SO₄, 1 wt.% and 3.5 wt. % NaCl solutions, simulating marine and industrial atmospheres at 25 ± 0.5 °C. Localized corrosion behavior was characterized by electrochemical noise (EN) and cyclic potentiodynamic polarization (CPP) curves according to ASTM 6-199 ASTM G61 standards. The EN technique was analyzed through time series and analysis for chaotic systems, such as Hurst, Lyapunov and Husdorff coefficients, to determine the corrosion type of each system to reduce the uncertainty in common statistical analysis. The EN results show how Inconel superalloys tend to present localized attacks, being more notorious in NaCl. The application of specialized methods such as Hurst and Lyapunov helped to determine the corrosion system when alloys were characterized by EN. The results indicated that all superalloys exhibit positive hysteresis under CPP, indicating susceptibility to localized pitting corrosion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Corrosion Behavior and Mechanical Properties of Metallic Materials (3rd Edition))

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20 pages, 8477 KB

Open AccessArticle

Systematic Evaluation of Strain Rate and Environmental Conditions Effects on Stress Corrosion Cracking of an Al-Cu Alloy

by Sergio Lorenzi, Lorenzo Nani, Samuel Ferrari, Mattia Locatelli, Luca Gritti, Sara Bocchi and Marina Cabrini

Materials 2026, 19(11), 2414; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19112414 - 5 Jun 2026

Viewed by 199

Abstract

The aim of this study is to comprehensively investigate and quantify the effect of strain rate (SR) and environmental parameters on the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) behavior of a high-strength, aluminum–copper alloy. Slow strain rate (SSR) tests were carried out in air at 25 °C, over a SR range from 10⁻⁴ to 10⁻⁷ s⁻¹ and controlled relative humidity (RH) between 40% and 80%. The influence of the pre-soaking period in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution was also assessed. A major effect of pre-soaking was identified, as it was necessary for the onset of SCC. Increasing RH over 40% and decreasing SR below 10⁻⁵ s⁻¹ significantly intensified SCC susceptibility, leading to ductility loss up to 84%. SSR test results were supported by microstructural investigations, with particular emphasis on the role of second phases. Their electrochemical activity was examined by scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy (SKPFM), while intergranular corrosion (IGC) susceptibility was evaluated according to the ISO 11846 standard. The pronounced IGC susceptibility of the alloy led to predominantly intergranular fracture morphologies in cross-section peripheral areas after SSR testing. The results confirmed the synergistic effect among microstructure, IGC susceptibility and SCC behavior, identifying a critical window of mechanical and environmental parameters governing SCC. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Corrosion Behavior and Mechanical Properties of Metallic Materials (3rd Edition))

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14 pages, 8951 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Long-Term High-Temperature Aging on the Microstructural Evolution and Impact Fracture Behavior of Inconel 625 Superalloy

by Zhining Li, Kejian Li, Yao Wu, Zhipeng Cai and Qu Liu

Materials 2026, 19(10), 1932; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19101932 - 8 May 2026

Viewed by 308

Abstract

Inconel 625 is widely used in high-temperature structural components because of its excellent strength, toughness, and corrosion resistance. However, long-term exposure to elevated temperatures can induce precipitation of carbides, γ″ phase, and δ phase, leading to microstructural degradation and reduced mechanical reliability. Although precipitation evolution and tensile properties of aged Inconel 625 have been widely studied, the relationship between long-term precipitate evolution and impact fracture behavior remains insufficiently clarified. In this study, solution-treated Inconel 625 alloy was aged at 700 °C and 750 °C for up to 5000 h, with additional stress-assisted aging at 750 °C under 30 MPa and 51 MPa. Impact toughness, microhardness, fracture morphology, and precipitate evolution were systematically investigated. The results show that long-term aging significantly reduces impact toughness at both room and elevated temperatures, with a more pronounced reduction at room temperature. The room-temperature impact energy decreases from 314 J to approximately 10 J and stabilizes after 2000 h. Quantitative analysis shows that γ″ precipitate coarsening follows the Lifshitz–Slyozov–Wagner relationship, indicating diffusion-controlled growth. Stress-assisted aging under the present low stress levels has only a limited influence on precipitate evolution and impact toughness. The toughness degradation is mainly attributed to chain-like grain-boundary carbides and needle-like or plate-like δ phase, which embrittle grain boundaries, segment the austenitic matrix, and limit impact energy absorption. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Corrosion Behavior and Mechanical Properties of Metallic Materials (3rd Edition))

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23 pages, 14019 KB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Study on the Corrosion Sensitivity and Microstructure of 15%SiCp/Al-Cu-Mg Aluminum Matrix Composites Under Different Aging Treatments

by Nan Guo, Zhiyong Li, Ran Pan, Yuansong Zeng, Pingan Xu, Yunhe Chang and Baosheng Liu

Materials 2026, 19(9), 1835; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19091835 - 29 Apr 2026

Viewed by 340

Abstract

A comparative investigation of the corrosion behavior evolution of 15%SiCp/Al-Cu-Mg aluminum matrix composites (AMC) subjected to different heat treatments in a salt spray environment containing 5wt% NaCl was performed. Metallographic microscopy was used to observe the surface morphology of the corroded materials. Field-emission transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used for microstructural evaluation and elemental analysis of the samples. Polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were also employed to investigate the corrosion performance of the particle-reinforced aluminum matrix composites under different heat treatments. The test results indicate that, in addition to the influence of various grain boundary precipitates and electrochemical inhomogeneities between the precipitate-free zone (PFZ) and the aluminum matrix, differences in electrochemical properties between the SiC reinforcement particles and the aluminum alloy matrix are also a primary factor contributing to the corrosion of the aluminum-based composites in a 5wt% NaCl salt spray environment. Microstructural observations and electrochemical testing of AMC specimens at different corrosion stages indicate that under-aged samples exhibit relatively higher intergranular corrosion susceptibility. Under prolonged exposure to a salt spray environment, the over-aged specimen exhibited more pronounced galvanic corrosion phenomena, specifically, a significant decrease in Charge transfer resistance (R_ct) values and an increase in CPE values. R_ct results indicate that naturally aged AMC exhibits higher corrosion resistance than artificially aged AMC. With increased salt spray corrosion time, varying degrees of crevice corrosion occurred at the Al–SiC interface in all heat-treated samples. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Corrosion Behavior and Mechanical Properties of Metallic Materials (3rd Edition))

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17 pages, 4169 KB

Open AccessArticle

Susceptibility to Pitting Corrosion of AerMet 100 and 4340 Alloys for Aeronautical Applications

by Miguel Sergio Huerta-Zavala, Citlalli Gaona-Tiburcio, Demetrio Nieves-Mendoza, Jesus Manuel Jaquez-Muñoz, Jose Cabral-Miramontes, Erick Maldonado-Bandala, Rene Croche-Belin, Miguel Angel Baltazar-Zamora, Laura Landa-Ruiz, Luis Daimir Lopez-Leon, Javier Olguin-Coca and Facundo Almeraya-Calderon

Materials 2026, 19(7), 1397; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19071397 - 31 Mar 2026

Viewed by 636

Abstract

In the aeronautics industry, high-strength steels such as AerMet 100 and 4340 are widely used in critical structural components that must withstand extreme operating environments. These materials possess high tensile strength, fracture toughness, and fatigue resistance. The aim of this investigation is to study the susceptibility to localized pitting corrosion of two aeronautics alloys, AerMet 100 and 4340, and their immersion in H₂SO₄, NaCl, and HCl solutions at room temperature, using electrochemical noise (EN) according to the ASTM ASTM-G199 standard. The EN signal was filtered by two different methods, and the polynomial method was employed to obtain Rn, LI, Kurtosis, Skewness, and the potential spectral density analysis (PSD). Results indicate that AerMet 100 exhibits lower corrosion rate—up to an order of magnitude lower than 4340. The resistance noise of 1599 Ω·cm² in NaCl is higher. This same behavior is replicated when analyzing the noise impedance response (Z_n). In conjunction with the analyses of PSD slope, it is reported that localized corrosion is the predominant mechanism in the evaluated environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Corrosion Behavior and Mechanical Properties of Metallic Materials (3rd Edition))

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16 pages, 7001 KB

Open AccessArticle

Thermomechanical Treatment-Enabled Short-Circuit Diffusion Enhances Molten-Carbonate Corrosion Resistance of an Alumina-Forming Austenitic Alloy

by Haocheng Jiang, Haicun Yu, Yuehong Zheng, Faqi Zhan and Peiqing La

Materials 2026, 19(6), 1206; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19061206 - 19 Mar 2026

Viewed by 405

Abstract

Developing stable alumina-based scales is critical for alumina-forming austenitic (AFA) alloys exposed to highly basic molten carbonates. However, the inherently sluggish diffusion of Al in austenite often limits the establishment of continuous protective layers. Herein, a thermomechanical treatment (TMT) strategy is proposed to enhance short-circuit diffusion pathways and promote selective Al oxidation in a Li–Na–K carbonate melt at 700 °C. After 90% cold rolling, annealing at 800 °C and 1000 °C generated two distinct microstructural states characterized by different grain boundary types, dislocation densities, and NiAl precipitate populations. The 800 °C-annealed alloy exhibits a significantly lower steady-state corrosion rate (~62 μm/yr) compared with the coarse-grained 1000 °C counterpart. EBSD and TEM analyses reveal that ultrafine grains, abundant low-angle boundaries, and finely dispersed NiAl precipitates provide efficient fast-diffusion channels and local Al reservoirs, enabling rapid formation of a continuous LiAlO₂/Al₂O₃ inner layer. In contrast, insufficient Al flux in the 1000 °C microstructure results in extensive internal oxidation and growth of a thick, non-protective LiFeO₂/NiO scale. These findings demonstrate that controlling the defect and grain-boundary structure via TMT is an effective route to overcome Al diffusion limitations and improve the molten-carbonate corrosion resistance of AFA alloys. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Corrosion Behavior and Mechanical Properties of Metallic Materials (3rd Edition))

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21 pages, 7254 KB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Substrate Manufacturing Route on HiPIMS TiAlSiN-Coated AISI 316L Stainless Steel Produced by Laser Powder Bed Fusion

by Marek Kočiško, Patrik Petroušek, Róbert Kočiško, Lukáš Štafura, Dávid Medveď and Róbert Džunda

Materials 2026, 19(6), 1184; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19061184 - 18 Mar 2026

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 771

Abstract

Laser powder bed fusion has attracted increasing attention for the production of metallic substrates intended for surface functionalization by advanced physical vapor deposition coatings. This study investigates the influence of the substrate manufacturing route on the performance of titanium–aluminum–silicon nitride-coated AISI 316L stainless steel, with particular emphasis on substrates produced by laser powder bed fusion. Conventionally manufactured and additively manufactured AISI 316L substrates were coated with a titanium–aluminum–silicon nitride layer using high-power impulse magnetron sputtering. The substrates were characterized by tensile testing and microhardness measurements, while coating thickness and uniformity were evaluated using the crater ball method. The mechanical integrity of the coating–substrate system was assessed by progressive load scratch testing. The additively manufactured substrate exhibited a significantly higher yield strength (411 MPa) compared to the conventionally manufactured material (257 MPa), together with increased microhardness. The titanium–aluminum–silicon nitride coating showed a uniform thickness of 4.47 µm and a well-defined coating–substrate interface. Scratch tests revealed a delayed onset of coating damage on additively manufactured substrates, with the transition to severe adhesive failure occurring at higher normal loads compared to the conventionally manufactured substrate. These results demonstrate that AISI 316L stainless steel produced by laser powder bed fusion provides a mechanically robust substrate for titanium–aluminum–silicon nitride coatings deposited by high-power impulse magnetron sputtering, with favorable coating response under progressive loading conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Corrosion Behavior and Mechanical Properties of Metallic Materials (3rd Edition))

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27 pages, 16525 KB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of the Inclination Angle of 3D-Printed Inconel Alloy 718 on Its Corrosion Resistance

by Aleksandra Iwańczak, Katarzyna Skibińska, Krzysztof Żaba, Maciej Balcerzak, Konrad Wojtaszek, Sławomir Kąc and Piotr Żabiński

Materials 2026, 19(6), 1126; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19061126 - 13 Mar 2026

Viewed by 562

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the influence of the synthesis parameters on the corrosion resistance of 3D-printed Inconel 718 components. Samples were fabricated using laser powder bed fusion (PBF-LB/M) with different angles of inclination. Corrosion tests were conducted by immersion for 1000 h in a 3.5% aqueous NaCl solution at 20 °C and 45 °C, and by the potentiodynamic polarization measurements. Detailed analysis of changes in morphology, chemical composition, and roughness of 3D prints was performed using scanning electron microscopy, combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and optical profilometry. To quantify the dissolution of alloy components during the long-term measurements, the post-corrosion solutions were analyzed using microwave plasma–atomic emission spectroscopy. The obtained results demonstrate that inclination angle significantly affects corrosion rate and electrochemical kinetics, with measurable differences in mass loss, Icorr values, and surface degradation morphology observed between orientations. The findings indicate that build orientation governs microstructural anisotropy and surface characteristics, which in turn influence corrosion susceptibility. The novelty of this work lies in the systematic and multi-method evaluation of inclination angle as an independent structural parameter controlling corrosion kinetics in PBF-LB/M-fabricated Inconel 718, providing new insight into structure–corrosion relationships in additively manufactured nickel-based superalloys. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Corrosion Behavior and Mechanical Properties of Metallic Materials (3rd Edition))

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18 pages, 5927 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Cold Rolling on the Mechanical Properties and Corrosion Resistance in Hydrofluoric Acid Solution of Inconel 600 Alloy

by Xiaoxuan Dong, Yidi Li, Rongrong Shang, Mengxia Chen, Lu Liu, Jianwei Teng and Yunping Li

Materials 2026, 19(5), 966; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19050966 - 2 Mar 2026

Viewed by 456

Abstract

In this study, Inconel 600 alloy with reductions of 20%, 50%, and 80% was obtained through cold rolling, and the effects of plastic deformation on its mechanical properties and corrosion behavior in a hydrofluoric acid (HF) solution were systematically investigated. The results show that cold rolling induces pronounced work hardening, with both hardness and strength increasing continuously with increasing reduction, while the ductility decreases accordingly. The alloy with 80% reduction exhibits the highest strength, with an ultimate tensile strength of 1270 MPa and a yield strength of 1210 MPa. In contrast, the macroscopic corrosion resistance of the alloy in HF solution remains essentially unchanged with increasing deformation, although a slight intensification of pitting corrosion is observed. The combined effects of deformation-induced pitting and passivation enhancement resulted in retention of corrosion resistance. These findings demonstrate that appropriate control of cold rolling enables effective mechanical strengthening of Inconel 600 without significantly sacrificing its corrosion performance in aggressive fluorine containing environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Corrosion Behavior and Mechanical Properties of Metallic Materials (3rd Edition))

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