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Metals
Special Issues
Manufacture, Properties and Applications of Light Alloys
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Manufacture, Properties and Applications of Light Alloys

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 May 2025 | Viewed by 6820

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Bin Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
Interests: magnesium alloys; aluminum alloys; steel; metals; light metals; microstructure; precipitation; phase transformations; material characterization; transmission electron microscopy (TEM); scanning electron microscopy (SEM); electron microscopy; mechanical properties; materials processing; corrosion

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the context of carbon neutrality policies worldwide, light alloys, including magnesium alloys, aluminum alloys, and titanium alloys, with their high specific strength, are used as structural materials, where being lightweight is crucial for reducing CO2 emissions. Thus, extensive research on the manufacture, microstructure, properties and applications of these materials is of great importance. A deep understanding can be reached from both fundamental and applicational studies conducted at different levels, on the atomic scale, mesoscale, and macroscale.

This Special Issue aims to collect original research and review articles on the manufacture, microstructure, properties and applications of light alloys. Manuscripts, including experimental or simulation methods, are all welcome.

Dr. Bin Chen
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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 alloys
  • magnesium alloys
  • aluminum alloys
  • titanium alloys
  • microstructure
  • properties

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 2794 KiB  
Article
Electrochemical Characterization of Aluminum Alloy AlSi10Mg(Fe) for Its Potential Application as End Plate Material in Fuel Cells
by Darshita Pranlal Chhaniyara, Marcel Mandel and Lutz Krüger
Metals 2025, 15(3), 332; https://doi.org/10.3390/met15030332 - 19 Mar 2025
Viewed by 322
Abstract
End plates are important multi-functional components of the fuel cells. They provide structural support and are responsible for channeling the reactant gases, by-product water, and fuel cell coolant in and out of the fuel cell stack. Among various materials used for end plates, [...] Read more.
End plates are important multi-functional components of the fuel cells. They provide structural support and are responsible for channeling the reactant gases, by-product water, and fuel cell coolant in and out of the fuel cell stack. Among various materials used for end plates, aluminum alloy is used due to its high strength and low density. But its corrosion resistance depends on the environment. The operating fuel cell conditions may cause the fuel cell coolant to become more acidic or basic in nature and thus can lead to corrosion of end plates. In this work, a common die-cast aluminum alloy, AlSi10Mg(Fe), is used for end plates, and its corrosion behavior in direct contact with the fuel cell coolant is analyzed. The electrochemical characterization of uncoated and anodized aluminum alloy was achieved using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, potentiodynamic and potentiostatic polarization tests at room temperature and at the operating temperature of the fuel cell at 80 °C. It was found that for the uncoated aluminum alloy, the corrosion sensitivity is slightly increased when the temperature increases. In comparison, the anodized aluminum alloy reveals a decrease in corrosion sensitivity after 100 h of potentiostatic control, indicating an ongoing passivation of the surface due to the formation of aluminum oxides/hydroxides and aluminum alcohol corrosion products. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Manufacture, Properties and Applications of Light Alloys)
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18 pages, 9036 KiB  
Article
Investigation on the Mechanism of Hot Deformation Behavior of Aluminum Single Crystals Based on Grain Orientation
by Suping Pan, Baishan Chen, Yuqiang Chen, Jiabei Xu, Dingding Lu and Wenhui Liu
Metals 2025, 15(3), 238; https://doi.org/10.3390/met15030238 - 24 Feb 2025
Viewed by 480
Abstract
Aluminum alloys are widely used in transportation industries due to their excellent specific strength, stiffness, and formability. Modifying the texture of aluminum alloys can further enhance their mechanical properties. This study explores the hot deformation behavior of high-purity aluminum single crystals (ASCs) with [...] Read more.
Aluminum alloys are widely used in transportation industries due to their excellent specific strength, stiffness, and formability. Modifying the texture of aluminum alloys can further enhance their mechanical properties. This study explores the hot deformation behavior of high-purity aluminum single crystals (ASCs) with Brass and Goss orientations. We examine the influence of crystal orientation on deformation mechanisms and establish hot processing maps to identify optimal conditions for microstructural evolution. The results highlight the distinct behaviors of Goss- and Brass-oriented ASCs, with Goss exhibiting greater dynamic recrystallization potential and Brass showing higher strain rate sensitivity at elevated temperatures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Manufacture, Properties and Applications of Light Alloys)
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12 pages, 3719 KiB  
Article
Influence of β-Stabilizing Nb on Phase Stability and Phase Transformation in Ti-Zr Shape Memory Alloys: From the Viewpoint of the First-Principles Calculation
by Xinxin Feng, Xuepei Chen, Xiaoyang Yi, Weijian Li, Chenguang Liu, Xianglong Meng, Zhiyong Gao, Xinjian Cao and Haizhen Wang
Metals 2024, 14(10), 1192; https://doi.org/10.3390/met14101192 - 20 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1142
Abstract
In the present study, the effect of the Nb element on the lattice parameters, phase stability and martensitic transformation behaviors of Ti-Zr-based shape memory alloys was extensively investigated using the first-principles calculation. The lattice parameters of both the β parent phase and α′ [...] Read more.
In the present study, the effect of the Nb element on the lattice parameters, phase stability and martensitic transformation behaviors of Ti-Zr-based shape memory alloys was extensively investigated using the first-principles calculation. The lattice parameters of both the β parent phase and α′ martensite phase gradually decreased with Nb content increasing. For the α″ martensite phase, the lattice constant (a) gradually increased with the increase in Nb content, whereas the lattice constants (b and c) continuously decreased due to the addition of Nb. Based on the formation energy and density of state, β→α′ martensitic transformation occurred, as the Nb content was not more than 12.5 at.%. However, the Ti-Zr-Nb shape memory alloys with a Nb content higher than 12.5 at.% possessed the β→α″ martensitic transformation. However, both the largest transformation strain and sensitivity of critical stress to temperature (dσ/dT) can be optimized by controlling 12.5 at.% Nb in the Ti-Zr-Nb shape memory alloy, which was favorable to obtaining the largest elastocaloric effect. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Manufacture, Properties and Applications of Light Alloys)
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13 pages, 10924 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Cu Addition on Corrosion Resistance of Al-Si-Mg-Cr Alloy
by Zhige Wang, Liang Dong, Bin Hu and Bin Chen
Metals 2023, 13(4), 795; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13040795 - 18 Apr 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1991
Abstract
Two kinds of alloys with and without the addition of Cu, Al-7%Si-0.3%Mg-0.3%Cr and Al-7%Si-0.3%Mg-0.3%Cr-1.5%Cu, are studied in this work. The addition of Cu can notably improve notably the strength of Al alloy but it reduces its corrosion resistance. In this study, the electrochemical [...] Read more.
Two kinds of alloys with and without the addition of Cu, Al-7%Si-0.3%Mg-0.3%Cr and Al-7%Si-0.3%Mg-0.3%Cr-1.5%Cu, are studied in this work. The addition of Cu can notably improve notably the strength of Al alloy but it reduces its corrosion resistance. In this study, the electrochemical workstation is used to measure the open circuit potential and polarization curve of alloys and immersion corrosion is carried out. SEM and TEM images are taken before and after immersion corrosion to observe the pitting and intergranular corrosion of the alloy. Results show that the addition of Cu accelerates the immersion corrosion rate of Al alloy by 26.8% to 269.2%. This affects the peak ageing and overageing samples the most. The influence is less evident for underaged samples. At the same time, the addition of Cu aggravates the aggregation of pitting corrosion in the primary step of corrosion of Al alloy and the intergranular corrosion around and within the pitting hole. β″-Mg5Si6 precipitates and θ″-Al3Cu precipitates are observed in Al-7%Si-0.3%Mg-0.3%Cr-1.5%Cu alloy. The Cu atoms occupy Si3/Al site of β″ and segregate at the edge of β″. It is believed that the deterioration of corrosion performance essentially is attributed to the Si-enriched particles, Al13Cr4Si4 phase and the Cu-enriched precipitates, β″-Mg5Si6 precipitates and θ″-Al3Cu precipitates. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Manufacture, Properties and Applications of Light Alloys)
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13 pages, 4301 KiB  
Article
Effect of Different Heat Treatments on the Evolution of Novel Al-Si-Cu-Ni-Fe-Re Alloy Fabricated by Selective Laser Melting
by Jizhe Zhang, Pengfei Yan and Biao Yan
Metals 2022, 12(11), 1827; https://doi.org/10.3390/met12111827 - 27 Oct 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1943
Abstract
In this study, Cu and Ni are successfully added to additively manufactured Al-Si alloy by the mixing process to improve the strength and ductility of the alloy. The effects of different heat treatments on the microstructural evolution and bending properties of selective laser-melted [...] Read more.
In this study, Cu and Ni are successfully added to additively manufactured Al-Si alloy by the mixing process to improve the strength and ductility of the alloy. The effects of different heat treatments on the microstructural evolution and bending properties of selective laser-melted Al-Si-Cu-Ni-Fe-Re alloy are systematically investigated to optimize the mechanical properties. Nearly complete dense samples are initially additively manufactured with optimized parameters. The samples display a particular fiber network microstructure in which Cu-rich and Ni-rich phases distribute in an interwoven mesh around the eutectic silicon. After substrate plate heating (SPH) treatment, the network becomes denser, and the bending strength increases by 44.99 ± 1 MPa to 811.11 ± 29 MPa, despite the hardness decreases. Comparatively, solution aging (SQA) treatment results in the fiber network structures transforming into second-phase particles, which leads to a decline in bending strength and a significantly higher degree of ductility. Finally, the mechanisms of changes in microstructure and morphology, as well as mechanical properties after heat treatment, are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Manufacture, Properties and Applications of Light Alloys)
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