Mechanical Behaviors and Interfacial Segregation Phenomena in Metallic Materials: Simulation, Theory, and Characterization

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2024 | Viewed by 1035

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35406, USA
Interests: computational materials science; solid mechanics; grain boundary segregation; machine learning; interfacial phenomenon

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35406, USA
Interests: (in situ) electron microscopy; materials processing and manufacturing; interfaces; small-scale mechanical testing; crystalline defects

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Metallic materials typically consist of metal or metal alloys and may sometimes also incorporate small amounts of non-metallic elements like carbon and nitrogen. The combination of these different elements allows metallic materials to achieve desired material properties tailored for specific engineering applications. Among these properties, mechanical properties such as ductility, plasticity, and strength are particularly crucial. This is because the mechanical properties not only determine the practical range of applications for a metallic material, but also directly influence its overall performance during service, such as service life. Given the polycrystalline nature of most technically relevant metallic materials, the segregation of impurity or solute elements at both intragranular and intergranular interfaces can significantly change their mechanical behaviors, thereby alternating the overall mechanical performance of these materials. Understanding the relationship between interfacial segregation and mechanical behavior at various length scales is not only important for enriching our fundamental knowledge of interface science, but also sheds lights on the design of novel metallic materials with improved properties via interfacial segregation engineering.   

In this Special Issue, we welcome articles dealing with the use of simulation, theoretical, and experimental tools to investigate the relationships between mechanical behaviors and interfacial segregation phenomena in metallic materials. Studies on the effects of interfacial segregation on mechanical behaviors in such materials using data-driven and physics-informed modeling are highly encouraged.

Dr. Chongze Hu
Dr. Xin Wang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • mechanical behaviors
  • interfacial segregation
  • metallic materials
  • structure-property relationship
  • crystalline defects

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 6423 KiB  
Article
Investigation of the Solid Solution Hardening Mechanism of Low-Alloyed Copper–Scandium Alloys
by Ramona Henle, Simon Kött, Norbert Jost, Gerrit Nandi, Julia Dölling, Andreas Zilly and Ulrich Prahl
Metals 2024, 14(7), 831; https://doi.org/10.3390/met14070831 - 20 Jul 2024
Viewed by 281
Abstract
The addition of alloying elements is a crucial factor in improving the mechanical properties of pure copper, particularly in terms of enhancing its yield strength and hardness. This study examines the influence of scandium additions (up to 0.27 wt.%) on low-alloyed copper. Following [...] Read more.
The addition of alloying elements is a crucial factor in improving the mechanical properties of pure copper, particularly in terms of enhancing its yield strength and hardness. This study examines the influence of scandium additions (up to 0.27 wt.%) on low-alloyed copper. Following the casting and solution-annealing processes, the alloys were quenched in water to maintain a supersaturated state. The mechanical properties were evaluated by tensile tests to measure the yield strength and the dynamic resonance method to determine the modulus of rigidity. Additionally, X-ray diffraction was utilized to analyze changes in lattice parameters, elucidating the structural modifications induced by scandium. This study dissects the parelastic and dielastic effects underlying the solid solution hardening mechanism, providing insights into how scandium alters copper’s mechanical properties. The findings align with the solid solution hardening theories proposed by Fleischer and Labusch, providing a comprehensive understanding of the observed phenomena. Full article
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15 pages, 7256 KiB  
Article
Precipitation Behavior and Strengthening–Toughening Mechanism of Nb Micro-Alloyed Direct-Quenched and Tempered 1000 MPa Grade High-Strength Hydropower Steel
by Zhongde Pan, Enmao Wang and Huibin Wu
Metals 2024, 14(7), 794; https://doi.org/10.3390/met14070794 - 8 Jul 2024
Viewed by 391
Abstract
Faced with the rapid development of large-scale pumped-storage power stations, the trade-off between the strength and toughness of hydropower steels in extreme environments has been limiting their application. The effects of Nb micro-alloying and direct quenching and tempering processes on the strengthening–toughening mechanism [...] Read more.
Faced with the rapid development of large-scale pumped-storage power stations, the trade-off between the strength and toughness of hydropower steels in extreme environments has been limiting their application. The effects of Nb micro-alloying and direct quenching and tempering processes on the strengthening–toughening mechanism of 1000 MPa grade high-strength hydropower steel are studied in this paper, and the precipitation behavior of Nb is discussed. The results showed that only the 0.025Nb steel using the DQT process achieved a cryogenic impact energy of more than 100 J at −60 °C. Under the DQT process, a large number of deformation bands and dislocations were retained, refining the prior austenite grains and providing more nucleation sites for the precipitation of NbC during the cooling process. The DQT process has a more obvious local strain concentration, mainly focusing on the refined lath boundary, which indicates that the refinement of the microstructure also promotes the stacking of dislocations. The improvement in fine grain strengthening and dislocation strengthening by the DQT process jointly led to an increase in strength, resulting in a better combination of strength and toughness. Full article
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