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Evaluation of Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Lightweight Alloys
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Evaluation of Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Lightweight Alloys

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2025 | Viewed by 1051

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Xiaoyan Peng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
Interests: high performance aluminum alloy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Lightweight alloys, which include aluminum, magnesium, and titanium alloys, are celebrated for their low density, high strength, excellent corrosion resistance, and outstanding high-temperature performance. These attributes make them the preferred material across a variety of sectors, such as aerospace, automotive manufacturing, rail transportation, and electronics.

Evaluating the mechanical properties and microstructure of lightweight alloys is essential to guarantee their dependability across a range of applications. Precise testing and analysis facilitate the assessment of key performance indicators, such as yield strength, tensile strength, hardness, toughness, and fatigue resistance. Additionally, microstructural analysis reveals the internal grain structure, phase distribution, and defect conditions of the alloys, providing a deeper insight into their performance and a scientific basis for future material improvements.

This Special Issue aims to establish a platform for the dissemination of cutting-edge research and insights into the advancements within the lightweight alloy domain. These papers will delve into the intricate connections between the processing, composition, and the resulting mechanical behavior and microstructural characteristics.

For this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Advanced manufacturing processes such as additive manufacturing and precision casting.
  • The influence of alloying composition and heat treatments on the final microstructure and mechanical properties.
  • The development of novel testing methods for the characterization of lightweight alloys.
  • The integration of computational modeling with experimental data to predict material behavior and optimize alloy design.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Xiaoyan Peng
Guest Editor

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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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

  • aluminum alloy
  • magnesium alloy
  • titanium alloy
  • alloy composition
  • manufacturing processes
  • heat treatment
  • mechanical properties
  • microstructure
  • fatigue resistance

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 5805 KB  
Article
Study on the Effect of the Plunging Depth of Stirring Pin on the Performance of 6061-T6 Aluminum Alloy Refill Friction Stir Spot Welded Zone
by Di Jiang, Igor Kolupaev, Hongfeng Wang and Xiaole Ge
Materials 2025, 18(16), 3921; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18163921 - 21 Aug 2025
Viewed by 252
Abstract
In this study, under varying PDSP (plunging depths of stirring pin) and process parameters, refill friction stir spot welding tests were performed on 6061-T6 aluminum alloy, relying on a stirring tool with a 12 mm sleeve diameter and an 8 mm stirring pin [...] Read more.
In this study, under varying PDSP (plunging depths of stirring pin) and process parameters, refill friction stir spot welding tests were performed on 6061-T6 aluminum alloy, relying on a stirring tool with a 12 mm sleeve diameter and an 8 mm stirring pin diameter. The results manifested the internal defects in the weld zone when PDSP was 0, notwithstanding the alterations in process parameters. However, these flaws disappeared when PDSP was 0.5 mm and 1 mm. In the weld zone, PDSP exerted a dramatic effect on the internal metal flow state, particularly the curvature of the “Hook” shape and the width of the bonding ligament. It changed the downward bending of the ‘Hook’ into an upward one, influencing the fracture behavior of the weld zone and elevating the ULSF (ultimate lap shear force) by up to 20% (PDSP = 0.5 mm, welding speed = 30 mm/min, rotation speed is 1200 rpm). Besides, the PDSP intensified the PAZ (pin affected zone) pressure, induced more metal flowing into the SAZ (sleeve affected zone), thus reinforced the SAZ-TMAZ(thermomechanically affected zone) bonding strength, and upgraded the region’s microhardness. In summary, the PDSP is commendable for bolstering the weld zone’s performance, but excessively large PDSP values incur drastic indentations in the PAZ, which diminish the ULSF. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Evaluation of Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Lightweight Alloys)
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20 pages, 51475 KB  
Article
Mechanism-Driven Strength–Conductivity Synergy in Hypereutectic Al-Si Alloys Reinforced with Interface-Engineered Ni-Coated CNTs
by Xuexuan Yang, Yulong Ren, Peng Tang and Jun Tan
Materials 2025, 18(15), 3647; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18153647 - 3 Aug 2025
Viewed by 455
Abstract
Secondary hypereutectic Al-Si alloys are attractive for sustainable manufacturing, yet their application is often limited by low strength and electrical conductivity due to impurity-induced microstructural defects. Achieving a balance between mechanical and conductive performance remains a significant challenge. In this work, nickel-coated carbon [...] Read more.
Secondary hypereutectic Al-Si alloys are attractive for sustainable manufacturing, yet their application is often limited by low strength and electrical conductivity due to impurity-induced microstructural defects. Achieving a balance between mechanical and conductive performance remains a significant challenge. In this work, nickel-coated carbon nanotubes (Ni-CNTs) were introduced into secondary Al-20Si alloys to tailor the microstructure and enhance properties through interfacial engineering. Composites containing 0 to 0.4 wt.% Ni-CNTs were fabricated by conventional casting and systematically characterized. The addition of 0.1 wt.% Ni-CNTs resulted in the best combination of properties, with a tensile strength of 170.13 MPa and electrical conductivity of 27.60% IACS. These improvements stem from refined α-Al dendrites, uniform eutectic Si distribution, and strong interfacial bonding. Strengthening was achieved through grain refinement, Orowan looping, dislocation generation from thermal mismatch, and the formation of reinforcing interfacial phases such as AlNi3C0.9 and Al4SiC4. At higher Ni-CNT contents, property degradation occurred due to agglomeration and phase coarsening. This study presents an effective and scalable strategy for achieving strength–conductivity synergy in secondary aluminum alloys via nanoscale interfacial design, offering guidance for the development of multifunctional lightweight materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Evaluation of Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Lightweight Alloys)
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