Advances in Lightweight Material Forming Technology

A special issue of Metals (ISSN 2075-4701). This special issue belongs to the section "Metal Casting, Forming and Heat Treatment".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 August 2025 | Viewed by 2128

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Near-Net Forming of Light Metals of Liaoning Province, Dalian Jiaotong University, Dalian 116028, China
Interests: advanced forming technology for high performance aluminum alloys

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Lightweight metal material forming technology plays a significant role in the fields of aerospace, automotives, and electronics. The theory of and the technology enabling liquid metal forming, metal semi-solid forming, metal plastic forming, metal connection, and metal powder forming have been established. On this basis, researchers have developed advanced forming technologies including die casting, squeeze casting, additive manufacturing, rolling, forging, extrusion, and electric field/magnetic field/ultrasonic-assisted forming technology, etc. For example, integrated die casting technology for large and complex Al alloy components provides important support for the development of automobiles. The forming technology also relies on the comprehensive properties of the metal materials. Good forming techniques are crucial for controlling the shape and performance of components. Therefore, advances in lightweight material forming technology are topical issues being addressed by researchers around the world.

The aim of this Special Issue is to provide the readers of Metals with the recent advances in lightweight material forming technology. The scope of this Special Issue encompasses the forming technology of Al alloys, Mg alloys, Ti alloys, and Al/Mg/Ti matrix composites, the use of advanced characterization methods, the effects of the microstructure on properties, and the discovery of novel phenomenological aspects or mechanisms. We welcome both reviews and research articles.

Dr. Minqiang Gao
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • lightweight material
  • forming technology
  • composition design
  • process optimization
  • microstructure evolution
  • comprehensive property
  • characterization method
  • mechanism analysis

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

10 pages, 8729 KiB  
Article
Effect of Extrusion Ratio on Microstructure and Properties of Al-1.5Fe-0.4Cr Alloy Obtained by Continuous Rheo-Extrusion
by Yunhe Ning, Li Yang, Minqiang Gao and Renguo Guan
Metals 2024, 14(11), 1310; https://doi.org/10.3390/met14111310 - 20 Nov 2024
Viewed by 693
Abstract
Due to the shortage of primary Al resources and significant consumption of Al resources, recycled Al has become a focus of attention. In the process of recycling Al, the Fe element is the most hazardous impurity element, and the coarse Fe-containing phases lead [...] Read more.
Due to the shortage of primary Al resources and significant consumption of Al resources, recycled Al has become a focus of attention. In the process of recycling Al, the Fe element is the most hazardous impurity element, and the coarse Fe-containing phases lead to a reduction in the mechanical properties of recycled Al. In this work, an Al alloy with 1.5 wt% Fe and 0.4 wt% Cr was viewed as a recycled Al, approximately. The continuous rheo-extrusion technique was used to refine the Fe-containing phases in the Al-1.5Fe-0.4Cr alloy, improving the mechanical properties of the alloy. The effect of the extrusion ratio on the microstructure and properties of the continuous rheo-extrusion was investigated. The results showed that, when the extrusion ratio was changed from 4 to 5, the percentage of low-angle grain boundaries in the alloy increased from 45.5% to 53.1%, the average orientation angle reduced from 23.9° to 23.3°, and the grain size decreased from 4.3 ± 0.2 μm to 2.6 ± 0.1 μm. As a result, the ultimate tensile strength, yield strength and elongation of the alloy, with an extrusion ratio of 5, were 161.5 ± 2.8 MPa, 112.3 MPa ± 2.6, and 36.9% ± 1.6%, respectively. Grain refinement and Fe-containing phase refinement were responsible for the improvement in the mechanical properties of the alloy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Lightweight Material Forming Technology)
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16 pages, 12847 KiB  
Article
The Dependence of Electrochemical Behavior and Discharge Performance on the Zn/Gd Ratio of Mg-Li-Zn-Gd Anodes for Mg-Air Batteries
by Siqi Yin, Ningyuan Wang, Haoxuan Han, Zichen Liu, Guangzong Zhang and Renguo Guan
Metals 2024, 14(11), 1202; https://doi.org/10.3390/met14111202 - 22 Oct 2024
Viewed by 838
Abstract
In this study, the electrochemical performance and discharge behavior of Mg-Li-Zn-Gd alloys with α-Mg and β-Li-based anode material are investigated, with the aim to improve the anode performance of Mg-air batteries. The experimental anode alloys with detailed Mg-8Li-xZn-yGd (x = 1, 2, 3; [...] Read more.
In this study, the electrochemical performance and discharge behavior of Mg-Li-Zn-Gd alloys with α-Mg and β-Li-based anode material are investigated, with the aim to improve the anode performance of Mg-air batteries. The experimental anode alloys with detailed Mg-8Li-xZn-yGd (x = 1, 2, 3; y = 1, 2, 3 wt.%) components are prepared, and extrusion deformation is carried out on these alloys. Simultaneously, scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), electrochemical workstation, and constant current discharge systems are applied for microstructure characterization, corrosion, and discharge performance testing. The results show that the experimental alloys are composed of an α-Mg and β-Li dual matrix, with W-Mg3Gd2Zn3, Mg3Gd, and MgLiZn second phases. Meanwhile, extrusion deformation promotes the recrystallization process through the particle-induced nucleation mechanism. The corrosion resistance is improved with the increasing Zn/Gd ratio, and the extruded Mg-8Li-2Zn-1Gd (LZG821) alloy exhibits the optimum corrosion resistance, with a corrosion rate of 0.493 mm·year−1. In addition, the extruded Mg-8Li-1Zn-1Gd (LZG811) alloy has the optimal discharge performance, with a discharge specific capacity of 1371.04 mA·g−1 at a current density of 40 mA∙cm−2, and its anode efficiency reaches nearly 70%. The poorer discharge properties of the Mg-8Li-2Zn-1Gd (LZG821) and Mg-8Li-2Zn-3Gd (LZG823) alloys are attributed to their refined grains, which could bring severe intergranular corrosion while increasing the grain boundary density. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Lightweight Material Forming Technology)
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