Announcements

MDPI is excited to announce its participation as an exhibitor at the 15th International Conference on Surface Engineering, which will be held in Tianjin, China, from 9 to 11 May 2025.

The conference will be hosted by the Surface Engineering Branch of the Chinese Society of Mechanical Engineering, and the theme will be “Surface Engineering Technology Innovation to Promote the Development of New Quality Productivity”.

As the most influential academic conference in the field of surface engineering in China, the National Surface Engineering Conference has been successfully held for 14 consecutive sessions. Previous conferences have attracted many domestic experts, scholars and technicians engaged in surface engineering research, teaching, and engineering applications, and the success of the conference has played a very important role in promoting the development of China’s surface engineering discipline and the technological progress of related industries.

The following MDPI journals will be present at the conference:

• Coatings;
• Lubricants;
• Metals.

If you are planning to attend the conference, we would love to connect with you! Our delegates are eager to meet you in person and answer any questions that you may have. For more details about the conference, please visit the following website: https://2025.bmgc.cn/. We look forward to seeing you there!

The “Corrosion and Protection” Section of the journal Metals (ISSN: 2075-4701) focuses on the latest advancements in the study of metal corrosion mechanisms, prevention strategies and protective coatings. This Section aims to enhance the understanding of corrosion processes and develop innovative solutions to improve the durability and reliability of metallic materials in various environments.

Key areas of interest include electrochemical corrosion, high-temperature oxidation, stress corrosion cracking, coatings and surface treatments, corrosion-resistant alloys and advanced characterization techniques.

We welcome contributions covering both fundamental research and applied studies with industrial relevance, including novel corrosion mitigation technologies and environmental considerations.

As all papers published in Metals are in open access format, readers have free and unlimited access to the full texts. We invite you to explore our highly cited papers from 2023, listed below:

1. “High-Entropy Alloy Coatings Deposited by Thermal Spraying: A Review of Strengthening Mechanisms, Performance Assessments and Perspectives on Future Applications”
by Rakesh Bhaskaran Nair, Raunak Supekar, Seyyed Morteza Javid, Wandong Wang, Yu Zou, André McDonald, Javad Mostaghimi and Pantcho Stoyanov
Metals 2023, 13(3), 579; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13030579
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/3/579

2. “Corrosion Behavior of High Entropy Alloys and Their Application in the Nuclear Industry—An Overview”
by Tianrun Li, Debin Wang, Suode Zhang and Jianqiang Wang
Metals 2023, 13(2), 363; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13020363
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/2/363

3. “Effect of Laser Shock Peening on the Stress Corrosion Cracking of 304L Stainless Steel”
by Young-Ran Yoo, Seung-Heon Choi and Young-Sik Kim
Metals 2023, 13(3), 516; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13030516
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/3/516

4. “Influence of the Anodizing Time on the Microstructure and Immersion Stability of Tartaric-Sulfuric Acid Anodized Aluminum Alloys”
by Florian Raffin, Jacques Echouard and Polina Volovitch
Metals 2023, 13(5), 993; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13050993
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/5/993

5. “Rapid Electrodeposition and Corrosion Behavior of Zn Coating from a Designed Deep Eutectic Solvent”
by Jiayi Chen, Mengjun Zhu, Mingtao Gan, Xiuli Wang, Changdong Gu and Jiangping Tu
Metals 2023, 13(1), 172; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13010172
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/1/172

6. “Effect of Superhydrophobic Surface on Corrosion Resistance of Magnesium-Neodymium Alloy in Artificial Hand Sweat”
by Changyang Liu, Jiapeng Sun and Guosong Wu
Metals 2023, 13(2), 219; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13020219
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/2/219

7. “High-Temperature Oxidation of Steel under Linear Flow Rates of Air and Water Vapor—An Experimental Determined Set of Data”
by Georg Gaiser, Peter Presoly and Christian Bernhard
Metals 2023, 13(5), 892; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13050892
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/5/892

8. “Stress Corrosion Cracking Mechanisms of UNS S32205 Duplex Stainless Steel in Carbonated Solution Induced by Chlorides”
by Ulises Martin and David M. Bastidas
Metals 2023, 13(3), 567; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13030567
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/3/567

9. “Study on the Preparation and Corrosion Resistance Properties of Superhydrophobic Coatings on Galvanized Steel”
by Wenjuan Chen, Haoran Shi, Weiwen Liu, Anran Zhao, Gang Pan, Anding Huang, Yinglu Yu and Luqi Ma
Metals 2023, 13(2), 260; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13020260
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/2/260

10. “The Nitrate-Dependent Impact of Carbon Source Starvation on EH40 Steel Corrosion Induced by the Coexistence of Desulfovibrio vulgaris and Pseudomonas aeruginosa”
by Wenkai Wang, Zhihua Sun, Jiajia Wu, Dun Zhang, Peng Wang, Ce Li, Liyang Zhu, Yaohua Gao and Yan Sun
Metals 2023, 13(2), 413; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13020413
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/2/413

The “Computation and Simulation on Metals” Section of Metals (ISSN: 2075-4701) highlights cutting-edge research on the computational modeling and simulation of metallic materials and processes. This Section aims to advance the understanding of metal behavior through numerical methods, data-driven approaches, and multiscale simulations.

Key areas of interest include finite element analysis, phase-field modeling, molecular dynamics, machine learning applications, and simulations of microstructural evolution, mechanical properties, and material processing.

We welcome contributions that encompass both theoretical and applied research, including studies with direct industrial relevance.

As all papers published in Metals are in open access format, readers have free and unlimited access to the full texts. We invite you to explore our highly cited papers from 2023, listed below:

1. “Evaluation of the Elastic Modulus and Plateau Stress of a 2D Porous Aluminum Alloy Based on a Convolutional Neural Network”
by Jianhang Sun, Yepeng Xu and Lei Wang
Metals 2023, 13(2), 284; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13020284  
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/2/284

2. “A Review of Large-Scale Simulations of Microstructural Evolution during Alloy Solidification”
by Nicholas Cusato, Seyed Amin Nabavizadeh and Mohsen Eshraghi
Metals 2023, 13(7), 1169; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13071169  
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/7/1169

3. “An Analysis of Long-Process Ironmaking in a Reduction Smelting Furnace with Hydrogen-Enriched Conditions”
by Haifeng Li and Jingran Chen
Metals 2023, 13(10), 1756; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13101756  
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/10/1756

4. “Study on the Activity Model of PbO-ZnO-FeO-Fe₂O₃-SiO₂-CaO Six-Component High-Lead Slag System”
by Jinbo Song, Wenlong Xi and Liping Niu
Metals 2023, 13(4), 734; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13040734  
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/4/734

5. “Application of Digital Image Processing Techniques to Detect Through-Thickness Crack in Hole Expansion Test”
by Daniel J. Cruz, Rui L. Amaral, Abel D. Santos and João Manuel R. S. Tavares
Metals 2023, 13(7), 1197; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13071197  
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/7/1197

6. “Numerical Simulation of the Slag Splashing Process in A 120 Ton Top-Blown Converter”
by Guang Yang, Baokuan Li, Meijia Sun, Deyue Qin and Liangcai Zhong
Metals 2023, 13(5), 940; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13050940  
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/5/940

7. “Surface Formation of Sloping Features in Laser Powder–Bed Fusion by Multi-Track Multi-Layer Simulations”
by Trong-Nhan Le and Kevin Chou
Metals 2023, 13(5), 976; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13050976  
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/5/976

8. “Data-Driven Inverse Problem for Optimizing the Induction Hardening Process of C45 Spur-Gear”
by Sevan Garois, Monzer Daoud and Francisco Chinesta
Metals 2023, 13(5), 997; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13050997  
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/5/997

9. “Reproducible Quantification of the Microstructure of Complex Quenched and Quenched and Tempered Steels Using Modern Methods of Machine Learning”
by Björn-Ivo Bachmann,  Martin Müller, Dominik Britz, Thorsten Staudt and Frank Mücklich
Metals 2023, 13(8), 1395; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13081395  
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/8/1395

10. “An Investigation of Spiral Dislocation Sources Using Discrete Dislocation Dynamics (DDD) Simulations”
by Luo Li and Tariq Khraishi
Metals 2023, 13(8), 1408; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13081408  
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/8/1408

MDPI will be attending the XVI International Mineral Processing and Recycling Conference, which will be held in Belgrade, Serbia, from 28 to 30 May 2025. IMPRC 2025 is organized every two years by the Technical Faculty in Bor, a member of the University of Belgrade, and co-organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia. The conference aims to create an international forum for academics, researchers, and scientists from around the world to present their latest research results, ideas, and developments regarding issues related to mineral processing and recycling technologies and related areas.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Minerals;
• Recycling;
• Environments;
• Processes;
• Sustainability;
• Waste;
• Metals.

If you are attending the conference, please visit our booth. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://imprc.tfbor.bg.ac.rs/.

The “Additive Manufacturing” Section of Metals (ISSN: 2075-4701) showcases cutting-edge research on metal-based additive manufacturing, spanning both fundamental studies and real-world applications. We embrace a multidisciplinary approach to deepen the understanding of additive manufacturing processes. Key areas of interest include process optimization, microstructural evolution, mechanical properties, computational modeling, and the development of novel materials for additive manufacturing.

We welcome both theoretical and experimental studies, as well as applied research with industrial significance.

As all papers published in Metals are open access, there is free and unlimited access to all full texts. We invite you to explore our highly cited papers from 2023, listed below.

1. “Current Status and Challenges of Powder Bed Fusion-Based Metal Additive Manufacturing: Literature Review”
by Naol Dessalegn Dejene and Hirpa G. Lemu
Metals 2023, 13(2), 424; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13020424
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/2/424

2. “Additive Manufacturing of AISI 316L Stainless Steel: A Review”
by Danilo D’Andrea
Metals 2023, 13(8), 1370; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13081370
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/8/1370

3. “Process Parameter Optimization of 2507 Super Duplex Stainless Steel Additively Manufactured by the Laser Powder Bed Fusion Technique”
by Ali Mulhi, Shirin Dehgahi, Prashant Waghmare and Ahmed J. Qureshi
Metals 2023, 13(4), 725; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13040725
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/4/725

4. “Effect of Thermal Cycling on Grain Evolution and Micro-Segregation in Selective Laser Melting of FGH96 Superalloy”
by Lin Li, Furong Liu, Shijin Nie, Qin Wang, Rongxia Zhao, Yongzhi Zhang, Haoyuan Feng and Xin Lin
Metals 2023, 13(1), 121; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13010121
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/1/121

5. “Non-Destructive Testing Inspection for Metal Components Produced Using Wire and Arc Additive Manufacturing”
by Douglas S. M. Serrati,  Miguel A. Machado,  J. P. Oliveira and  Telmo G. Santos
Metals 2023, 13(4), 648; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13040648
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/4/648

6. “Microstructural Evolution of a High-Strength Zr-Ti-Modified 2139 Aluminum Alloy for Laser Powder Bed Fusion”
by Federico Larini, Riccardo Casati, Silvia Marola and Maurizio Vedani
Metals 2023, 13(5), 924; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13050924
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/5/924

7. “Effect of Heat Treatment on Microstructural Evolution in Additively Manufactured 316L Stainless Steel”
by Wei-Yi Wang, Andrew Godfrey and Wei Liu
Metals 2023, 13(6), 1062; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13061062
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/6/1062

8. “Parameters Optimization and Repeatability Study on Low-Weldable Nickel-Based Superalloy René 80 Processed via Laser Powder–Bed Fusion (L-PBF)”
by Pietro Antonio Martelli, Antonio Sivo, Flaviana Calignano, Emilio Bassini, Sara Biamino and Daniele Ugues
Metals 2023, 13(2), 210; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13020210
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/2/210

9. “Synthesizing Ti–Ni Alloy Composite Coating on Ti–6Al–4V Surface from Laser Surface Modification”
by Yitao Chen,  Joseph W. Newkirk and  Frank Liou
Metals 2023, 13(2), 243; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13020243
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/2/243

10. “Microstructures and High Temperature Tensile Behaviours of Laser Powder Bed Fusion Fabricated Al-Mn-Sc Alloy”
by Yuqing Yan, Chengqi Lu,  Zhenyu Chen,  Yuhao Zhuo, Chuanyang Wang and Qingbo Jia
Metals 2023, 13(4), 788; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13040788
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/13/4/788

The interest in mining for obtaining critical metals has increased in recent decades. Among these metals are cobalt, lithium, rare earth elements, gallium, germanium, hafnium, indium, niobium, platinum-group metals, tantalum, titanium, vanadium, tungsten, and strontium. These critical metals are crucial for energy transition.

This webinar will discuss environmental and technical aspects of critical mineral recovery from secondary sources for application in green energy production. We will discuss technical aspects of battery recycling and challenges for future research on the global production of green hydrogen.

Date: 10 March 2025 at 3:00 p.m. CET | 9:00 a.m. EST| 10:00 p.m. CST Asia
Webinar ID: 820 8707 9177
Website: https://sciforum.net/event/Processes-5

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar. Registrations with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.

Unable to attend? Register anyway and we will let you know when the recording is available to watch.

Register now for free!

Program:

Webinar Chair and Keynote Speakers:

• Dr. Amilton Barbosa Botelho Junior, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA;
• Dr. Dilshan Sandaruwan Premathilake, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Architettura, Territorio e Ambiente e di Matematica (DICATAM), Università degli Studi di Brescia, Italy;
• Dr. Lucas Fonseca Guimarães, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Architettura, Territorio e Ambiente e di Matematica (DICATAM), Università degli Studi di Brescia, Italy;
• Dr. Bruno Ramos, Department of Chemical Engineering, FEI University Center, Brazil.
  

Relevant Special Issues:
“Advances in Metallurgical Processing and Involved Separation Techniques”
Guest Editor: Amilton Botelho Junior
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 August 2025

“Advances in Recycling of Valuable Metals—2nd Edition”
Guest Editors: Denise Crocce Romano Espinosa, Daniel Assumpcao Bertuol and Amilton Botelho Junior
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 August 2025

MDPI is pleased to share a significant milestone in its mission to advance scholarly research and promote the dissemination of knowledge—300+ MDPI journals are now indexed in Web of Science (WoS). This milestone highlights the global recognition, interdisciplinary impact and enhanced visibility of our journals. It also reflects our adherence to rigorous editorial standards, scientific integrity, and our mission to foster open scientific exchange in all forms, across all disciplines. 

To explore the full list of our journals indexed in WoS, please visit https://www.mdpi.com/about/journals/wos. Beyond expanding the coverage of our publications in the leading academic databases, we are dedicated to ensuring that our journals are included in as many scope-specific databases as possible. This increases the visibility of our authors’ work and extends the reach of their significant data. 

This milestone would not have been possible without the efforts and expertise of our academic editors, reviewers and authors. Their commitment and collaboration have been instrumental in creating an inclusive, accessible, and impactful publishing platform. We also extend our gratitude to the global research community for their trust as we continue to break new ground in academic publishing. This milestone is not just a celebration of MDPI’s progress but also recognition of the collective strides made by researchers worldwide. 

As we celebrate this remarkable accomplishment, MDPI remains steadfast in its commitment to open access publishing and ensuring that high-quality research reaches and inspires a global audience.

We are pleased to announce the launch of a new initiative—the Metals Special Issue Mentor Program. 

This program will enable early career researchers (who must have a Ph.D. in a related field) to experience editing a Special Issue in an MDPI journal, under the mentorship of our experienced Editorial Board Members or other experienced scientists. The mentor program will provide an excellent opportunity for early career scientists to gain editorial experience and cultivate their ability to edit scientific research. It is important to note that within this program, the mentor will hold the title of Guest Editor (GE), while the mentee will be recognized as the Guest Editor Assistant (GEA).

The mentee’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Proposing a Special Issue title and assisting the mentor in preparing a summary (around 200–400 words) and 3–10 keywords describing the background, importance, and goal of the Special Issue;
• Writing a brief promotion plan for the Special Issue;
• Compiling a list of scholars that may be interested in the issue and personally sending invitations on behalf of the Guest Editors;
• Writing an editorial, together with the mentor, for the online Special Issue;
• Providing opinions and suggestions to the GE mentor to assist them with making their final decisions (but they cannot make decisions during paper processing, and the GE Assistant will not be listed in the published papers as an Academic Editor).

The mentor’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Conducting a final check before the Special Issue is published online;
• Performing editorial control of the Special Issue and quality control of the publications in a timely manner;
• Providing suggestions to younger scholars if they have any doubts or concerns regarding submissions;
• Organizing regular video calls with young scholars and the Editorial Office to discuss problems and improvement suggestions for the Special Issue;
• Making and submitting decisions for the submissions with the assistance of mentees.

Certificates and awards:
After the Special Issue closes, the Editorial Office will provide official certificates to all the mentors and mentees.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please send your Special Issue proposal to the Metals Editorial Office (metals@mdpi.com), and we will discuss the process (i.e., mentor collaboration, Special Issue topic feasibility analysis, etc.) in further detail.

In addition to the new Special Issue Mentor Program, Metals (ISSN: 2075-4701) will continue to welcome all Special Issue proposals focusing on hot research topics.

Metals Editorial Office

MDPI, a pioneer in scholarly open access publishing, and the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine), Singapore, proudly announce the successful conclusion of the first edition the MDPI Early Career Researcher Awards. The awards, which recognize outstanding contributions to medical and biomedical research, were presented to six exceptional researchers during an awards ceremony held at LKCMedicine HQ Building on 28 November 2024.

Honoring Excellence in Research

The awards recognize exceptional postdoctoral researchers and Ph.D. students who have demonstrated outstanding originality, innovation, and impact in their respective fields. We are honored to announce the winners of the 2024 edition:

Early Career Researcher (Postdoc) Award:

• Dr. Theresia Handayani Mina, “Adiposity and Metabolic Health in Asian Populations: An Epidemiological Study Using Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry in Singapore”;
• Dr. Erfan Rezvani Ghomi, “Wound Healing Improvement by Novel Aligned Antimicrobial Nanofibrous 3D Scaffolds”;
• Dr. Yadollah Ranjbar Slamloo, “Functional Alterations of The Prefrontal Circuit Underlying Cognitive Aging in Mice”.

Early Career Researcher (Ph.D.) Award:

• Pritisha Rozario, “Mechanistic Basis for Potassium Efflux-Driven Activation of the Human NLRP1 Inflammasome”;

• Michelle Law Cheok Yien, “Chikungunya Virus Nonstructural Protein 1 is a Versatile RNA Capping and Decapping Enzyme”;
• Yin Ruoyu, “The Use of Digital Mental Health and Wellbeing Tools in Older Adults: A Mixed Method Study”.

Our collaboration highlights a shared commitment to recognizing exceptional talent and research within the academic community, addressing today’s healthcare challenges, and inspiring continued innovation.

Looking Ahead to 2025

Building on the success of the first edition, MDPI and LKCMedicine are excited to announce that the 2025 MDPI Early Researcher Awards will continue to celebrate excellence and innovation in medical research. The next edition promises to expand its scope, introducing new categories and providing even greater recognition for impactful research.

Further details on the 2025 awards, including nomination criteria and timelines, will be shared in the coming months. We remain committed to fostering a culture of research excellence and collaboration within the global scientific community.

We are pleased to announce the XVI International Mineral Processing and Recycling Conference (IMPRC 2025), which will take place in Belgrade, Serbia, from 28 to 30 May 2025. The aim of the conference is to create an international forum for academics, researchers, and scientists from around the world to present their latest research results, ideas, and developments regarding issues related to mineral processing and recycling technologies and related areas, featuring talks including but not limited to the following topics:

• Material analysis and characterization;
• Physical enrichment—gravity, magnetic, and electrostatic separation;
• Flotation and surface chemistry processes, flotation reagents, and flotation technology;
• Leaching and solutions processing;
• Mineral processing of complex ores;
• Coal processing;
• Dewatering and agglomeration;
• Sustainability in mineral processing;
• Decarbonization technologies in mineral processing;
• Critical mineral raw materials.

In collaboration with the journal Metals, IMPRC 2025 will host a competition for the best young researcher (Metals Young Researcher Award). The aim is to support master’s and Ph.D. students and young doctors (with a Ph.D. completed less than 5 years ago) under the age of 35. Candidates who fulfill the above competition requirements are encouraged to apply, and a selection committee will choose the top three candidates based on the quality of their papers and oral presentations. The winners will be awarded certificates and prize money as follows:

• First place: EUR 500;
• Second place: EUR 350;
• Third place: EUR 150.

In addition, all authors of conference papers are welcome to submit extended versions of their papers to the Special Issue “Innovative Solutions for the Recovery of Metals from Primary and Secondary Raw Materials” in Metals (ISSN: 2075-4701).

We look forward to seeing you in Belgrade!