Green and Bio-Based Pathways for Advanced Metallic Materials

A special issue of Metals (ISSN 2075-4701). This special issue belongs to the section "Biobased and Biodegradable Metals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 406

Special Issue Editor


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Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy
Interests: titanium alloys; magnesium alloys; surfaces; biodegradation; functionalization; polyphenols; essential oils
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The transition toward sustainable and circular materials is increasingly present the field of metallurgy. This Special Issue aims to explore the emerging class of bio-based and bio-enabled metallic materials, focusing on innovative routes that integrate biological or renewable resources into metallic systems and processes. Topics of interest may include the following:

  • Composite or coated metals incorporating bio-derived polymers or natural compounds, such as plant-based polymeric coatings and hybrid bio-metallic interfaces;
  • Green and circular metallurgical processes where parts of the auxiliary materials—fluxes, binders, solvents, or reducing agents—originate from renewable or biological sources;
  • Biotechnological approaches employing microorganisms, enzymes, or biological compounds for metal extraction, reduction, and recycling, including bioleaching, bioelectrolysis, bioreduction, and bio-based urban mining from electronic waste and residues.

By bringing together interdisciplinary research in the fields of materials science, biotechnology, and circular engineering, this Special Issue seeks to highlight how biological and renewable strategies can reshape the future of metallic materials—reducing environmental impact while enabling new functionalities and sustainable value chains.

Dr. Silvia Spriano
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • bio-based metallic materials
  • bio-enabled metallic materials
  • green and circular metallurgical processes
  • bioleaching
  • bioelectrolysis
  • bioreduction
  • bio-based urban mining

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

26 pages, 8154 KB  
Article
Role of Build Orientation and Surfaces on Passive Film Kinetics and Degradation of LB-DED Ti6Al4V in Fluoride Media
by Lorenzo D’Ambrosi, Katya Brunelli, Saeed Khademzadeh, Christophe Lyphout and Arshad Yazdanpanah
Metals 2025, 15(12), 1340; https://doi.org/10.3390/met15121340 - 5 Dec 2025
Viewed by 332
Abstract
Although Directed Energy Deposition (DED) of Ti–6Al–4V has been widely explored for its mechanical performance, the combined influence of build orientation and surface position (upskin/downskin) on passive film kinetics and fluoride-induced degradation remains largely unexamined. This study addresses this gap by systematically investigating [...] Read more.
Although Directed Energy Deposition (DED) of Ti–6Al–4V has been widely explored for its mechanical performance, the combined influence of build orientation and surface position (upskin/downskin) on passive film kinetics and fluoride-induced degradation remains largely unexamined. This study addresses this gap by systematically investigating how processing direction and surface thermal history govern microstructure and corrosion behaviour in Laser-Based DED (LB-DED) Ti–6Al–4V. The alloy was fabricated in XY and XZ orientations, and both upskin and downskin surfaces were evaluated. Microstructural characterisation revealed strong anisotropy, with elongated prior-β grains and directional α + β colonies particularly prominent in the XZ orientation. Electrochemical testing in borate buffer showed stable passivity across all conditions, with XY surfaces forming the most compact oxide films. In a more aggressive 2.5% NaF saliva environment, substantial orientation-dependent degradation was observed: XY specimens maintained low corrosion currents and uniform passive layers, whereas XZ downskin exhibited unstable passivation and extensive micro-pitting. These findings demonstrate, for the first time, that the interplay between build orientation and surface position critically dictates passive film defect structure, stability, and fluoride-driven breakdown, providing new mechanistic insight into the corrosion behaviour of DED Ti–6Al–4V relevant to biomedical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green and Bio-Based Pathways for Advanced Metallic Materials)
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