Microstructural Characteristics and Mechanical Behavior of Austenitic Stainless Steel

Dear Colleagues,

The room- and high-temperature mechanical properties of austenitic stainless steels are dependent on their specific microstructure characteristics in micro, nano and atomic scales. In this respect, the alloying elements and alloying strategy, casting condition, subsequent thermo(mechanical) processing routes and post-heat treatments certainly influence the microstructural features. Therefore, describing the microstructure–processing–properties relationship in austenitic stainless steels is of high interest and critical for efficient and economical design to meet application requirements.

This Special Issue will focus on the microstructure of austenitic stainless steels, with an emphasis on its correlation with strain-hardening behavior and involved deformation mechanisms. This Special Issue encourages a discussion of the effect of grain structure, substructure, dislocation networks, annealing and deformation twins, austenite stability, slip character, stacking fault energy and texture on the hardening behavior of austenitic stainless steels. Studies that focus on innovative and more cost-effective compositions, metastable stainless steels, and those subjected to different processing routes from conventional to new forms, such as additive manufacturing and thermomechanical treatments, are also invited. We hope that this issue contributes to expanding our knowledge regarding the strength–ductility balance of austenitic stainless steels, as well as suggesting ideas for future composition designs. Manuscripts are highly welcomed from both academic and commercial viewpoints that present innovative and original findings.

Dr. Hamid Reza Abedi
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.