Advances in Lightweight Alloys, 2nd Edition

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: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 1178

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Research Institute for Frontier Science, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
Interests: aluminum alloy; Ni-based superalloy; casting; forming; solidification
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Institute for Frontier Science, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
Interests: advanced aluminum; aluminum-based composite; Nb-Si based alloy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are delighted to organize a Special Issue entitled “Advances in Lightweight Alloys II”. To meet the requirement of energy saving and emission reduction, lightweight alloys have been widely used in industries such as aerospace, automotives, and railway transportation. Recent research advances enable a better understanding of the relationship between the composition, microstructure, process, and properties of lightweight alloys. The papers presented in this Special Issue contain valuable information about the composition design, preparation process, casting, solidification, microstructure, and property analysis of lightweight alloys, including but not limited to aluminum alloy, magnesium alloy, titanium alloy, and lightweight nickel-based superalloy. We hope this Special Issue will contribute to the ongoing discussions on designing high-performance lightweight alloys and developing advanced processing technology.

Dr. Huarui Zhang
Dr. Lina Jia
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • aluminum alloy
  • magnesium alloy
  • titanium alloy
  • Ni-based superalloy
  • composition design
  • processing technology
  • microstructure analysis
  • mechanical properties

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 8196 KiB  
Article
Enhancing Aluminum Alloy Properties Through Low Pressure Forging: A Comprehensive Study on Heat Treatments
by Silvia Cecchel and Giovanna Cornacchia
Metals 2025, 15(7), 797; https://doi.org/10.3390/met15070797 - 15 Jul 2025
Viewed by 154
Abstract
The weight reduction is a key objective in modern engineering, particularly in the automotive industry, to enhance vehicle performance and reduce the carbon footprint. In this context aluminum alloys are widely used in structural automotive applications, often through forging processes that enhance mechanical [...] Read more.
The weight reduction is a key objective in modern engineering, particularly in the automotive industry, to enhance vehicle performance and reduce the carbon footprint. In this context aluminum alloys are widely used in structural automotive applications, often through forging processes that enhance mechanical properties compared to the results for casting. However, the high cost of forging can limit its economic feasibility. Low pressure forging (LPF) combines the benefits of casting and forging, employing controlled pressure to fill the mold cavity and improve metal purity. This study investigates the effectiveness of the LPF process in optimizing the mechanical properties of AlSi7Mg aluminum alloy by evaluating the influence of three different magnesium content levels. The specimens underwent T6 heat treatment (solubilization treatment followed by artificial aging), with varying aging times and temperatures. Microstructural analysis and tensile tests were conducted to determine the optimal conditions for achieving superior mechanical strength, contributing to the design of lightweight, high-performance components for advanced automotive applications. The most promising properties were achieved with a T6 treatment consisting of solubilization at 540 °C for 6 h followed by aging at 180 °C for 4 h, resulting in mechanical properties of σy 280 MPa, σm 317 MPa, and A% 3.5%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Lightweight Alloys, 2nd Edition)
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20 pages, 3323 KiB  
Article
Determination of the Corrosion and Biocompatibility Properties of As-Cast TiNi Alloys
by Minja Miličić Lazić, Dijana Mitić, Biljana Dojčinović, Marko Lazić, Aleksandra S. Popović and Branimir N. Grgur
Metals 2025, 15(7), 758; https://doi.org/10.3390/met15070758 - 5 Jul 2025
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Abstract
In this study, a TiNi alloy with a composition of 50 at.% of titanium and 50 at.% of nickel is investigated in terms of its corrosion and biocompatibility behavior for biomedical applications. The corrosion measurements, which include the determination of open-circuit potential and [...] Read more.
In this study, a TiNi alloy with a composition of 50 at.% of titanium and 50 at.% of nickel is investigated in terms of its corrosion and biocompatibility behavior for biomedical applications. The corrosion measurements, which include the determination of open-circuit potential and linear polarization resistance measurements, cyclic polarization measurements, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in 9 g L−1 NaCl, show that TiNi has satisfactory corrosion stability. According to the SEM and EDS analysis, after cyclic polarization, pitting corrosion occurred, accompanied by the dissolution of the unstable Ti2Ni inclusions. The analysis also showed that TiNi has good biocompatibility for human osteoblast-like cells, as determined by the mitochondrial activity, which was assessed using a direct contact test following ISO standard 10993-5, via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and fluorescent microscopy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Lightweight Alloys, 2nd Edition)
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12 pages, 3201 KiB  
Article
Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Friction Effects in the Forming of Thin EN AW 8006-O Aluminum Sheets
by Gianluca Parodo, Luca Sorrentino, Sandro Turchetta and Giuseppe Moffa
Metals 2025, 15(7), 695; https://doi.org/10.3390/met15070695 - 22 Jun 2025
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Abstract
This work investigates the role of friction in the numerical prediction of formability for ultra-thin aluminum sheets made of the EN AW 8006-O alloy. Nakazima-type hemispherical punch stretching tests were conducted under lubricated conditions to assess the influence of interface tribology on thickness [...] Read more.
This work investigates the role of friction in the numerical prediction of formability for ultra-thin aluminum sheets made of the EN AW 8006-O alloy. Nakazima-type hemispherical punch stretching tests were conducted under lubricated conditions to assess the influence of interface tribology on thickness distribution and failure behavior. The experimental activity included tensile testing for material parameter identification and coefficient of friction (COF) measurements according to ASTM D1894 to characterize interface friction. These parameters were then implemented into a finite element model developed in PAM-STAMP. The simulation results were compared with experimental thickness profiles, and showed good agreement when calibrated friction coefficients were used. The analysis highlights the sensitivity of sheet deformation to frictional conditions, and demonstrates that accurate tribological input significantly improves predictive accuracy. The proposed workflow offers a reliable and efficient methodology for simulating forming processes involving ultra-thin aluminum foils, with potential applications in the food packaging industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Lightweight Alloys, 2nd Edition)
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Review

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33 pages, 20199 KiB  
Review
Composition Optimization in Alloy Design for Nickel-Based Single Crystal Superalloy: A Review
by Yu Zhou, Xinbao Zhao, Yunpeng Fan, Quanzhao Yue, Wanshun Xia, Qinghai Pan, Yuan Cheng, Weiqi Li, Yuefeng Gu and Ze Zhang
Metals 2025, 15(7), 793; https://doi.org/10.3390/met15070793 - 13 Jul 2025
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Abstract
This article presents a review of the composition optimization progress of nickel-based single crystal (SC) superalloy design in recent years in order to obtain better high-temperature performance for the development of the aviation industry. The influence of alloying elements on the creep resistance, [...] Read more.
This article presents a review of the composition optimization progress of nickel-based single crystal (SC) superalloy design in recent years in order to obtain better high-temperature performance for the development of the aviation industry. The influence of alloying elements on the creep resistance, microstructure characteristics, oxidation resistance, castability, density, and cost of superalloys is analyzed and discussed. In order to obtain better high-temperature performance, the content of refractory elements (Ta + Re + W + Mo) and Co was increased gradually. The addition of Ru was added in the fourth-generation nickel-based SC superalloy to stabilize the microstructures and suppress the precipitation of the topologically close-packed (TCP) phase. However, the content of the antioxidant element Cr significantly decreased, while the synergistic effect of Al, Cr, and Ta received more attention. Therefore, synergistic effects should also receive more attention to meet the practical needs of reducing the content of refractory elements to reduce costs and density in future single crystal alloy designs without compromising critical performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Lightweight Alloys, 2nd Edition)
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