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Metals
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Light Alloy and Its Application (3rd Edition)
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Light Alloy and Its Application (3rd Edition)

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 4763

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Chonghe Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Advanced Special Steel & Shanghai Key Laboratory of Advanced Ferrometallurgy & School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200072, China
Interests: titanium alloy; TiAl single crystal; intermetallic compound; theoretical calculation; alloy design; refractories for titanium alloys
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Light alloys are a type of advanced materials composed mainly of low-density metals such as aluminum, magnesium, and titanium. Due to their excellent specific strength and functionality, they are widely regarded as key fundamental materials for modern high-end equipment manufacturing. In the aerospace field, light alloys are the key material support for reducing the weight, enhancing efficiency, and improving the carrying capacity and fuel economy of aircraft. In the automotive industry, light alloys are an important option for promoting the transition towards electrification and weight reduction. For instance, aluminum alloys are widely used in the bodies of new energy vehicles and the enclosures of battery packs, which can significantly reduce the curb weight, and thereby extend the range, of these vehicles. Magnesium alloys, due to their outstanding shock absorption properties and electromagnetic shielding capabilities, are also gradually being used in precision structural components such as spacecraft brackets and electronic equipment casings. Furthermore, titanium alloys, due to their high specific strength, corrosion resistance, and high-temperature tolerance, have become the ideal materials for components, such as compressor blades of aircraft engines and cabin structures of spacecraft, that operate under high temperatures and heavy loads. Although light alloys have been widely used in many high-end applications, they still face challenges such as insufficient high-temperature performance, complex forming processes, and high corrosion protection requirements. Currently, related research is continuously deepening in directions such as multi-component alloy design, process integration, advanced preparation, and intelligent manufacturing. To further promote the development of light alloys, we are launching this Special Issue of Metals, where we welcome the submission of reviews and articles around the basic research, theoretical calculations, designs, material preparation and characterization, and applications of light alloys.

Prof. Dr. Chonghe Li
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 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

  • light alloy
  • lightweight high-entropy alloy
  • aluminum alloy
  • magnesium alloy
  • titanium alloy
  • magnesium–lithium alloy
  • intermetallic compound
  • thermodynamics and kinetics
  • metallurgy

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Related Special Issues

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 4727 KB  
Article
Effect of Single-Pass DSR and Post-Annealing on the Static Recrystallization and Formability of Mg-Based Alloys
by Christopher Hale, Zhigang Xu, Prithu Dhar, Svitlana Fialkova and Jagannathan Sankar
Metals 2026, 16(1), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/met16010055 - 1 Jan 2026
Viewed by 541
Abstract
Differential speed rolling (DSR) has been recognized as a unique processing technique in recent years, which has been used to plastically deform Mg-based alloys and to investigate the role of dynamic recrystallization (DRX) and its influence on both microstructure and mechanical properties. In [...] Read more.
Differential speed rolling (DSR) has been recognized as a unique processing technique in recent years, which has been used to plastically deform Mg-based alloys and to investigate the role of dynamic recrystallization (DRX) and its influence on both microstructure and mechanical properties. In this study, Mg–2Al–0.5Ca–0.5Mn (AXM20504) was solution-heat-treated (T4 condition) and subjected to single-pass DSR at both 20 and 40% thickness reductions, followed by post-annealing at temperatures of 350, 400, and 450 °C for the durations of 20, 40, and 60 min to evaluate the onset and development of static recrystallization (SRX) and its overall effect on the formability of Mg-based alloys. The results demonstrate how post-annealing yields nearly complete SRX at 400 °C for 60 min and 450 °C for 40 min with a significant improvement in ductility, increasing from 5% to 12% while maintaining an average tensile strength above 200 MPa. Thus, the improvement in mechanical properties demonstrates that post-annealing can deliver significant potential in terms of the enhanced formability of Mg alloys used in sheet metal forming applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Light Alloy and Its Application (3rd Edition))
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12 pages, 2809 KB  
Article
Effect of Precipitation Behavior on Mechanical Properties of 6082 Aluminum Alloy
by Zhi Yang, Enjun Piao, Wenhao Li, Weikun Wang, Chengxiang Feng and Mei Zhang
Metals 2025, 15(12), 1287; https://doi.org/10.3390/met15121287 - 24 Nov 2025
Viewed by 832
Abstract
The mechanical properties of 6082 aluminum alloy under different aging conditions were investigated in this study. Precipitation behavior leading to an increase in strength was confirmed by the observation of the microstructure using TEM. The β″ precipitate, which is coherent with the [...] Read more.
The mechanical properties of 6082 aluminum alloy under different aging conditions were investigated in this study. Precipitation behavior leading to an increase in strength was confirmed by the observation of the microstructure using TEM. The β″ precipitate, which is coherent with the Al matrix, contributes to the high tensile strength and hardness of the alloy. The transformation of the β″ phase into the β′ phase observed under TEM was proven to be responsible for the decrease in strength and hardness. The hardness curves indirectly reveal that a higher aging temperature could accelerate the transformation of β″ into β′. The coherent strain field introduced by the β″ precipitate was clearly observed and is discussed. In addition, an ideal artificial aging window is proposed, with a combined performance of a TS of 360 MPa, hardness of 105 HB and elongation over 10%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Light Alloy and Its Application (3rd Edition))
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15 pages, 6679 KB  
Article
Formation and Characterization of Ti-Al Intermetallic and Oxide Layers on Ti6Al4V as Interlayers for Hydroxyapatite Coatings
by Stefan Alexandru Laptoiu, Marian Miculescu, Diana Enescu, Iulian Antoniac and Florin Miculescu
Metals 2025, 15(10), 1159; https://doi.org/10.3390/met15101159 - 21 Oct 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 964
Abstract
This study explores a novel approach to enhance the surface properties of Ti-Al alloys for biomedical applications by creating a compositional gradient layer through aluminum deposition using Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM). The primary goal was to develop a metallurgically bonded intermetallic zone that [...] Read more.
This study explores a novel approach to enhance the surface properties of Ti-Al alloys for biomedical applications by creating a compositional gradient layer through aluminum deposition using Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM). The primary goal was to develop a metallurgically bonded intermetallic zone that supports strong adhesion and improved compatibility for subsequent hydroxyapatite (HA) deposition. Aluminum was deposited onto a Ti6Al4V substrate via EDM under controlled conditions, followed by thermal and thermochemical treatments to induce diffusion and intermetallic phase formation. Comprehensive analyses using optical and electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed the formation of well-adhered layers composed of complex Ti-Al intermetallics such as TiAl2 and TiAl3, along with oxide phases including TiO2 and Al2O3. Thermal and thermochemical treatments further improved surface hardness, reaching up to 1057 HV, and influenced the diffusion behavior of aluminum, titanium, and vanadium. Adhesion tests confirmed that the untreated and thermochemically treated layers exhibited superior mechanical stability, while thermal treatment alone led to brittleness and delamination. These findings demonstrate that a properly engineered intermediate aluminide layer can significantly improve the performance of bioceramic coatings, particularly HA, by providing enhanced structural integrity and biocompatibility. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Light Alloy and Its Application (3rd Edition))
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17 pages, 6099 KB  
Article
Influence of B on the Practical Properties of TiAl Alloys for Jet Engine Blades and a Comparison of TiAl4822 and XD Alloys
by Toshimitsu Tetsui and Kazuhiro Mizuta
Metals 2025, 15(10), 1132; https://doi.org/10.3390/met15101132 - 11 Oct 2025
Viewed by 936
Abstract
B is considered a valuable additive for TiAl alloys, because it is believed to improve their properties by refining their microstructures. However, the effects of B on the practical properties of TiAl alloys for jet engine blades and the optimal addition amount for [...] Read more.
B is considered a valuable additive for TiAl alloys, because it is believed to improve their properties by refining their microstructures. However, the effects of B on the practical properties of TiAl alloys for jet engine blades and the optimal addition amount for achieving balanced properties remain unclear. Specifically, there have been very few studies to date in which the practical properties of alloys have been evaluated across a wide range of B addition levels. Therefore, we evaluated various reliability, cost, and performance properties of jet engine blade materials using cast Ti-45,47Al-2Nb-2Mn (the same as XD alloys), with varying B addition levels. The results showed that, in some cases, low B addition levels (0.1–0.2 at.%) could enhance the impact resistance and high-cycle fatigue performance. However, even low B addition levels negatively impacted the machinability, castability, and creep strength. Further, adding 0.4 B or more significantly reduced most practical properties. Compared to XD alloys, TiAl4822 exhibited a superior balance, which is attributed to the higher B content (1 at.%) in XD alloys and the greater effectiveness of Cr relative to Mn in improving the alloy’s high-temperature impact resistance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Light Alloy and Its Application (3rd Edition))
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Review

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27 pages, 3835 KB  
Review
A Review on Microstructure Control and Performance Enhancement of Aluminum Alloys via Directional Solidification
by MaoYuan Han, HaiTao Wang, Yu Guo, Ming Chen and Wei Zhao
Metals 2026, 16(1), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/met16010024 - 26 Dec 2025
Viewed by 817
Abstract
As industrial technology advances at an accelerated pace, the demands on the performance characteristics of aluminum alloys are becoming more stringent. Researchers have enhanced the casting process of aluminum alloys through a range of innovative methods, thereby significantly improving the overall performance of [...] Read more.
As industrial technology advances at an accelerated pace, the demands on the performance characteristics of aluminum alloys are becoming more stringent. Researchers have enhanced the casting process of aluminum alloys through a range of innovative methods, thereby significantly improving the overall performance of these materials. This advancement better equips aluminum alloys to meet the increasingly stringent requirements in the aerospace, new energy, and automotive industries. This paper reviews the current development status of casting aluminum alloys using directional solidification technology, details the process parameters and simulation techniques, and summarizes studies on the corrosion performance of directionally solidified aluminum alloys as evaluated by electrochemical testing. Additionally, this paper elaborates on the current research status regarding the enhancement of directionally solidified aluminum alloys through the application of magnetic fields, providing a valuable reference for future studies on directional solidification technology in casting aluminum alloys. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Light Alloy and Its Application (3rd Edition))
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