Symmetry Studies in Metals & Alloys

A special issue of Symmetry (ISSN 2073-8994). This special issue belongs to the section "Engineering and Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2027 | Viewed by 1211

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Manufacturing and Materials Engineering, University of Campinas—UNICAMP, Campinas 13083-860, Brazil
Interests: solidification; alloys; microstructure; corrosion
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Manufacturing and Materials Engineering, University of Campinas—UNICAMP, Campinas 13083-860, Brazil
Interests: solidification; alloys; microstructure; laser
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Sea Science Department, Federal University of São Paulo—UNIFESP, Santos 11030-400, SP, Brazil
Interests: numerical simulation; mathematical modeling; solidification of metal alloys; heat transfer; tribological wear and laser heat treatments of metallic materials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Symmetry is a fundamental principle in the study of crystalline solids, particularly metals and alloys. Most metals crystallize into highly symmetric and densely packed structures. These structures are defined by distinct symmetry elements that govern the periodic arrangement of atoms within the lattice. Therefore, symmetry not only dictates the formation of crystallographic phases at the microstructural level but also exerts a strong influence on mechanical strength, texture, deformation response, and atomic diffusivity.

Characterization methods based on crystallographic symmetry have been widely used in recent years for the experimental analysis of metallic materials. Techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) rely on symmetry to determine crystallographic orientations, phase distributions, and texture evolution. These methods have contributed considerably to clarifying processing–structure–property relationships. Symmetry considerations aid in interpreting anisotropic plasticity, especially in alloys subjected to thermomechanical processing.

In this Special Issue, we invite contributions that explore symmetry topics including, but not limited to, crystallographic structure, mechanical properties, deformation behavior, texture evolution, and solid-state diffusion in both ferrous and non-ferrous alloys. Submissions that advance the understanding of how symmetry influences the properties of metallic materials across various microstructural length scales are particularly encouraged.

Dr. André Barros
Dr. Noé Cheung
Dr. Felipe Bertelli
Guest Editors

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. Symmetry 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 2400 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

  • crystallography
  • microstructure
  • mechanical properties
  • deformation
  • diffusion

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 2836 KB  
Article
Effect of Silicon Addition on the Phase Symmetry and Microstructural Stability of High-Entropy Alloys During Heat Treatment
by Sheetal Kumar Dewangan
Symmetry 2026, 18(4), 589; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym18040589 - 30 Mar 2026
Viewed by 335
Abstract
This study investigates the role of silicon (Si) addition in governing the evolution of phase symmetry and microstructural stability in a high-entropy alloy (HEA) synthesized via powder metallurgy. Mechanically alloyed powders were consolidated through conventional sintering, followed by systematic heat treatment to examine [...] Read more.
This study investigates the role of silicon (Si) addition in governing the evolution of phase symmetry and microstructural stability in a high-entropy alloy (HEA) synthesized via powder metallurgy. Mechanically alloyed powders were consolidated through conventional sintering, followed by systematic heat treatment to examine symmetry-driven phase transformations. Particular attention is given to the symmetry relationship between body-centered cubic (BCC) and face-centered cubic (FCC) crystal structures and their compositional stabilization mechanisms. X-ray diffraction and microstructural analyses reveal that Si incorporation modifies lattice symmetry, promotes controlled phase transformation, and influences the balance between competing crystallographic phases. The addition of Si contributes to symmetry stabilization by reducing heterogeneity in lattice distortion and suppressing grain coarsening during thermal exposure. These findings demonstrate that compositional tuning can regulate structural symmetry and phase equilibrium in multicomponent alloy systems. The work provides insight into symmetry-controlled material design strategies for enhancing the thermal robustness and structural reliability of HEAs for high-temperature applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Symmetry Studies in Metals & Alloys)
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14 pages, 3961 KB  
Article
Effect of Ni Addition on the Phase Balance and Grain Boundary Character Distribution in 2507 Super Duplex Stainless Steel Fabricated via LPBF
by Przemysław Snopiński, Beatrice Ardayfio, Mengistu Dagnaw, Mariusz Król, Michal Kotoul and Zbigniew Brytan
Symmetry 2026, 18(1), 198; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym18010198 - 21 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 485
Abstract
Super duplex stainless steels (SDSSs) can be effectively fabricated via Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF), yet achieving the necessary phase balance remains a critical metallurgical challenge. The rapid solidification rates inherent to the LPBF process typically result in a predominantly ferritic microstructure. Since [...] Read more.
Super duplex stainless steels (SDSSs) can be effectively fabricated via Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF), yet achieving the necessary phase balance remains a critical metallurgical challenge. The rapid solidification rates inherent to the LPBF process typically result in a predominantly ferritic microstructure. Since CSL boundaries—specifically high-symmetry ∑3 twins—form preferentially in the austenite phase, achieving a high fraction of these boundaries in the ferritic as-built LPBF state remains a significant challenge. To address this limitation, we implemented a feedstock modification strategy by mechanically blending 2507 SDSS powder with 3 and 6 wt.% elemental nickel prior to LPBF processing. The microstructural evolution, phase distribution, and boundary character were comprehensively evaluated using Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD). Analysis revealed that the addition of nickel did not compromise densification, with all samples achieving relative densities exceeding 99.2%. While the base alloy remained 98.5% ferritic, the addition of 6 wt.% Ni successfully promoted the formation of approximately 31.1 wt.% austenite, characterized by intragranular laths formed via a massive-like transformation mechanism6. Crucially, despite the theoretical increase in Stacking Fault Energy (SFE) associated with high nickel content, the restored austenite phase exhibited a significant fraction of high-symmetry CSL ∑3 twin boundaries (rising to 7.05%). These findings demonstrate that compositional modification can overcome the kinetic limitations of the LPBF process, facilitating the development of a favorable Grain Boundary Character Distribution (GBCD). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Symmetry Studies in Metals & Alloys)
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