Advanced Metallic Materials and Manufacturing Processes

A special issue of Metals (ISSN 2075-4701).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 1460

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
College of Engineering & Computer Science, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR 72401, USA
Interests: surface science and engineering; experimental nanomechanics; computational materials science
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Engineering and Computer Science, Arkansas State University, 22105 East Aggie Rd, Jonesboro, AR 72401, USA
Interests: protective coatings; advanced thermal barrier coating systems; high pressure cold spray (HPCS); additive manufacturing of metallic materials; advanced manufacturing of metallic materials; thermal spray processes; high temperature oxidation; corrosion science; pitting and passivity; electrochemistry; materials for extreme environments

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Metals aims to spotlight state-of-the-art advances in the processing and property enhancement of metallic materials, including ferrous and non-ferrous alloys, high-/medium-entropy alloys, and oxide dispersion-strengthened (ODS) alloys, among others. We welcome original research articles, comprehensive reviews, and short communications that deepen our understanding of the following:

  • Fabrication and Post-Processing Methods
    Cutting-edge manufacturing techniques such as additive manufacturing, powder metallurgy, and hybrid processes, as well as heat treatments, coatings, surface engineering, and innovative processing routes designed for complex alloys and ODS systems.
  • Computational and Experimental Alloy Design
    Synergistic application of computational tools like CALPHAD, molecular dynamics, phase-field modeling, machine learning, and multiscale simulation frameworks with experimental approaches/validation to refine alloy compositions, microstructural features, and properties.
  • Properties
    In-depth analysis of tensile behavior and fatigue performance across a wide temperature range (from cryogenic to elevated temperatures), creep resistance, aqueous corrosion behavior, and durability in extreme environments such as irradiation exposure, high-temperature oxidation, hot corrosion conditions, etc.

By uniting experimental rigor, computational modeling, and application-driven insights, this Special Issue aims to offer a robust platform for accelerating the deployment of advanced metallic materials across high-impact sectors such as the aerospace, energy, nuclear, and automotive engineering domains.

Dr. Robert A. Fleming
Dr. Mohammadreza Daroonparvar
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. Metals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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

  • manufacturing technology
  • computational tools
  • performance enhancement
  • metallic materials

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 9257 KB  
Article
Experimental Investigation of Surface Contamination Removal in Machined Metals Using Multi-Technique Characterization
by Cristiano Fragassa, Jacopo Vetricini, Mattia Latini, Mattia Merlin and Carlo Santulli
Metals 2026, 16(5), 485; https://doi.org/10.3390/met16050485 - 30 Apr 2026
Viewed by 432
Abstract
During the machining processes, surfaces are often contaminated by cutting fluids, metallic debris, and residual films, which may compromise subsequent operations (e.g., coating, bonding, or precision assembly). In the present study, the effectiveness of several cleaning methods applied to machined metallic surfaces was [...] Read more.
During the machining processes, surfaces are often contaminated by cutting fluids, metallic debris, and residual films, which may compromise subsequent operations (e.g., coating, bonding, or precision assembly). In the present study, the effectiveness of several cleaning methods applied to machined metallic surfaces was experimentally evaluated. A set of commonly used industrial metals, including stainless steels, alloy steels, aluminum alloys, and brass, was machined under controlled conditions and subjected to various cleaning treatments, including solvent-based cleaning, ultrasonic washing, and aqueous detergent processes. Surface conditions were first assessed through optical microscopy, focusing on machining grooves as preferential sites for contaminant accumulation. Then, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) was employed to better identify residual contaminants. Optical observations highlighted the progressive removal of debris and lubricant residues, while SEM–EDS analyses revealed the presence of thin organic films and localized carbon-rich contaminants, even on apparently clean surfaces. Results show a consistent trend across all materials, with increasing cleaning effectiveness from solvent-based treatments to ultrasonic cleaning and specific aqueous detergent processes. Ultrasonic cleaning proved particularly effective in removing thin films and contaminants in complex geometries, whereas aqueous detergent treatment demonstrated superior performance in eliminating larger debris and achieving overall surface cleanliness. The findings, combining a broad experimental campaign across multiple materials, cleaning treatments, and characterization techniques, underline the importance of multi-scale characterization for a reliable assessment of cleaning efficiency and suggest that combined cleaning approaches may further enhance surface quality in demanding industrial applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Metallic Materials and Manufacturing Processes)
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18 pages, 5191 KB  
Article
Influence of Ta Content on Tribological Properties of Cr-Ta Coatings Deposited by Electrospark Deposition
by Feng Gao, Kaiyan Wang, Fengsheng Lu, Lei Zhang, Chang Gong, Fengling Zhang, Mingli Ding, Guanglin Zhu, Cean Guo and Jian Zhang
Metals 2026, 16(1), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/met16010036 - 28 Dec 2025
Viewed by 459
Abstract
This study systematically investigates the composition–structure–property relationships in electrospark-deposited Cr-Ta coatings (10, 25, and 40 at.%) on CrNi3MoVA steel for wear resistance applications. Microstructural characterization reveals that the Cr-10Ta coating exhibits a dense microstructure with excellent metallurgical bonding to the substrate, [...] Read more.
This study systematically investigates the composition–structure–property relationships in electrospark-deposited Cr-Ta coatings (10, 25, and 40 at.%) on CrNi3MoVA steel for wear resistance applications. Microstructural characterization reveals that the Cr-10Ta coating exhibits a dense microstructure with excellent metallurgical bonding to the substrate, consisting of a reinforcing Cr2Ta Laves phase and Fe-Cr solid solution. In contrast, higher Ta content (25–40 at.%) results in the formation of brittle Ta oxides and the development of cracks. Mechanical testing indicates that the Cr-10Ta coating exhibits superior hardness (6.35 GPa) and elastic–plastic deformation resistance (H/E = 0.041, H3/E2 = 0.0109), outperforming both higher-Ta coatings and the substrate material. Corresponding tribological assessments reveal that the Cr-10Ta coating achieves the lowest friction coefficient (~0.4) along with a minimal wear rate, which can be attributed to its synergistic combination of fine-grained structure, high dislocation density, and Laves phase reinforcement. The findings underscore that precise control over Ta content serves as an effective strategy for optimizing the wear resistance of Cr-Ta coatings through microstructural engineering. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Metallic Materials and Manufacturing Processes)
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