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A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Science and Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2024) | Viewed by 13916

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Dr. Young-Min Kim

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Advanced Joining & Additive Manufacturing R&D Department, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH), Incheon 21999, Republic of Korea
Interests: alloy design; thermodynamic modeling; welding metallurgy; cladding; high-entropy alloy; resistance spot welding
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Dear Colleagues,

Various materials, including metal, exist in our daily life. Each metal and material is applied in various fields in accordance with its unique characteristics. To understand the mechanical, physical, and chemical properties of metals and materials, it is necessary to understand scientific principles. Through this understanding, the design for processes and applications of related materials can be achieved.

This Special Issue covers all aspects of the sciences, processes, and applications related to the properties of various metals and materials. We welcome all research fields, from theoretical approaches to experiments associated with metals and materials. This Special Issue also covers materials’ characterization, physical properties, and mechanical behavior; modern alloy developments; ceramics and glasses; plastics and composites; and corrosion and surface engineering. In addition, this issue includes but is not limited to process design and manufacturing processes involving metals and materials. Computational science involving materials is also a topic of interest.

Dr. Young-Min Kim
Guest Editor

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Keywords

metallic materials
non-metallic materials
manufacturing process
material characterization
mechanical properties
microstructure
alloy design
simulation
advanced applications
processing techniques

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 12394 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Corrosion Susceptibility and Microhardness of Al-Ni Alloys with Different Grain Structures

by Alejandra Silvina Román, Edgar Rolando Ibañez, Natalia Silvina Zadorozne, Claudia Marcela Méndez and Alicia Esther Ares

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(19), 8862; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14198862 - 2 Oct 2024

Viewed by 610

Abstract

The development of Al-Ni alloys with a controlled microstructure has had a great impact on the field of study of aluminum-based alloys. In the present research, the influence of thermal parameters on the grain structures resulting from the directional solidification process of Al-Ni alloys with different alloy content has been studied. It has also been evaluated how different structures and the distribution of second phases influence the corrosion behavior and microhardness of alloys. The columnar-to-equiaxed transition (CET) was observed to occur when the temperature gradient in the melt decreased to values between 1.3 and 2.9 °C/cm. In addition, a small increase in the microhardness values was observed as a function of the Ni content. When the Ni content increases, the resistance to polarization decreases for samples with equiaxed grain structure throughout the range of compositions studied. Furthermore, the equiaxed grain structure presents higher resistance to polarization values than the columnar grain zone for alloys with a composition equal to or lower than the eutectic composition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metals and Materials: Science, Processes and Applications)

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16 pages, 11052 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Inconel 718 Hybrid Laser-Based Directed Energy Deposition and Wrought Component Characterization through Small Punch Tests

by Ibon Miguel, Garikoitz Artola, Jon Iñaki Arrizubieta, Ana Isabel Fernández-Calvo and Carlos Angulo

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(15), 6420; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14156420 - 23 Jul 2024

Viewed by 711

Abstract

The combination of wrought materials and laser-based directed energy deposition (DED-LB) is being increasingly used for manufacturing new and repairing old or damaged components in several industries. Aerospace components made of Inconel 718 featuring small-thickness DED-LB buildups are a remarkable example of such a combination due to the high added value it brings. Despite that these are usually critical components, the miniature testing methods to assess the local mechanical properties in the buildup area are not fully developed. This work contributes to this miniature testing development with an improvement of the small punch testing (SPT) technique for measuring the mechanical properties of the weld line between the DED-LB and the wrought substrate. A new criterion for weld line positioning in the SPT specimens is proposed and applied on samples of hybrid wrought/DED-LB Inconel 718. The results of positioning the weld line at the necking site of the SPT specimen show that the proposed approach is valid for assessing the properties of the transition zone between the wrought and additive states. For the specific conditions tested and taking the wrought material as a reference, the strength of the Inconel 718 drops 10% in the weld line and 20% in the buildup. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metals and Materials: Science, Processes and Applications)

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16 pages, 4995 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Study on the Current Pretreatment-Assisted Free Bulging of 304 Stainless Steel Sheets

by Jinchao Sun, Gui Wang, Qingjuan Zhao, Jiafang Pan, Yunfei Qu and Yongxiang Su

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(13), 5502; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14135502 - 25 Jun 2024

Viewed by 1138

Abstract

In order to further improve the microplastic deformation ability and forming performance of metal sheets, a pulse current pretreatment-assisted micro-forming method was proposed. Firstly, a 304 stainless steel sheet was pretreated with current (0–25 A), and the microstructure changes in the sheet under the action of current were analyzed. Then, a current-assisted bulging experiment was carried out from three aspects as follows: current size, mold structure size, and material properties, to explore the influence of different process parameters on the micro-bulging of the sheet. Finally, the forming quality was analyzed and evaluated from the two perspectives of bulging depth and wall thickness uniformity. The research results show that when the current intensity increases from 0 to 25 A, the fibrous distribution in the thickness direction of the sheet is alleviated, the structure is more uniform, the bulging depth shows an increasing trend, and the thinning rate and wall thickness uniformity are improved. When the current intensity reaches 25 A, the bulging depth increases from the original 463 μm to 503 μm, and the thinning rate drops from the most serious 48.52% to 19.4%. At the same time, as the mold size increases, the single-channel aspect ratio (W/H) also increases accordingly. When the mold groove width (W) is 2 mm, the ratio reaches 0.4, the sheet deforms significantly, and the filling effect is better. In addition, the larger the roundness of the convex and concave molds, the more uniform the wall thickness distribution of the bulging parts. Under the same experimental conditions, the bulging depth of the 304 stainless steel sheet is higher than that of TC4 titanium alloy, and it is less prone to springback and is more conducive to plastic deformation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metals and Materials: Science, Processes and Applications)

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22 pages, 17046 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancing the Mechanical Properties of a 6061 Aluminum Alloy by Heat Treatment from the Perspective of Taguchi Design-of-Experiments

by Isidro Guzmán-Flores, Everardo Efrén Granda-Gutiérrez, Celso Eduardo Cruz-González, Héctor Manuel Hernández-García, Juan Carlos Díaz-Guillén, Leonardo Flores-González, Rolando Javier Praga-Alejo and Dora Irma Martínez-Delgado

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(13), 5407; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14135407 - 21 Jun 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2185

Abstract

This research investigates the heat treatment parameters of 6061-aluminum alloy to enhance its mechanical properties. The Taguchi design-of-experiments (DOE) method was employed to systematically examine the effects of solutionizing temperature, solutionizing time, aging temperature, and aging time on the tensile strength of the alloy. Mechanical testing suggested a major influence of solutionizing and aging temperatures on the ultimate tensile strength of the alloy. The samples subjected to a solutionizing temperature of 540 °C for 3 h, followed by aging at 170 °C for 18 h, exhibited the highest ultimate tensile strength (293.7 MPa). Conversely, the samples processed at the lowest levels of these parameters displayed the lowest ultimate tensile strength (193.7 MPa). Microstructural analysis confirmed the formation of equiaxed grains, strengthening precipitates, precipitate clusters, and β (Mg₂Si) precipitates alongside Fe-Al-Si dispersoids. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis detected the presence of elemental precursors of β phase (Al-Mg-Si) and dispersoid-forming elements (Al-Fe-Si). X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD) analysis revealed the persistence of the β phase in the alloy, indicating its contribution to the improved mechanical properties, which are mainly obtained by aging precipitation phases. Fracture analysis showed a ductile fracture mechanism, and examining fractured samples supported the findings of enhanced tensile properties resulting from the adequate selection of heat treatment parameters. We employed ANOVA (analysis of variance) to analyze the DOE results, using a multiple regression model to express the ultimate tensile strength of the alloy in terms of the variables used in the design. This yielded an adjusted coefficient of determination of 89.75%, indicating a high level of explained variability in the test data for evaluating the model’s predictive capacity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metals and Materials: Science, Processes and Applications)

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11 pages, 480 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Theoretical Study of the Multiferroic Properties of Ion-Doped CaBaCo₄O₇

by Iliana N. Apostolova, Angel T. Apostolov and Julia M. Wesselinowa

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(11), 4859; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14114859 - 4 Jun 2024

Viewed by 617

Abstract

Using a microscopic model and Green’s function theory, we investigated the magnetization, specific heat, and polarization properties of CaBaCo₄O₇ (CBCO), scrutinizing their variations with temperature, magnetic field strength, and doping effects. Our analysis revealed a conspicuous kink in the specific [...] Read more.

T_{C}

), indicative of a phase transition. Additionally, the observed increase in polarization, P with escalating magnetic field strength serves as compelling evidence for the multiferroic nature of CBCO. Substituting Co ions with Fe ions resulted in an augmentation of the CBCO magnetization, M, while doping with Zn, Mn, or Ni ions led to a decline. Similarly, doping CBCO with Y or Sr ions at the Ca site exhibited divergent effects on magnetization, M, with an increase in the former and a decrease in the latter case. This modulation of the magnetization, M, can be attributed to the varying strains induced by the doping ions, thereby altering the exchange interaction constants within the system. The polarization, P, increases by Ni, Mn, or Zn substitution on the kagome layer Co sites. It can be concluded that Ni, Mn, or Zn doping enhances the magnetoelectric effect of CBCO. Notably, our findings align qualitatively well with experimental observations, reinforcing the validity of our theoretical framework. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metals and Materials: Science, Processes and Applications)

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13 pages, 3666 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Oxidation of Zinc Microparticles by Microwave Plasma to Form Effective Solar-Sensitive Photocatalysts

by Arsen Muslimov, Sergey Antipov, Makhach Gadzhiev, Anna Ulyankina, Valeria Krasnova, Alexander Lavrikov and Vladimir Kanevsky

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(22), 12195; https://doi.org/10.3390/app132212195 - 10 Nov 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1042

Abstract

The presented work studies the processes of synthesis of ZnO microstructures using atmospheric-pressure microwave nitrogen plasma and investigates their photocatalytic activity in the processes of degradation of 2,4-dinitrophenol and the antibiotic ciprofloxacin when irradiated with sunlight. The work proposes an effective method for formation of photosensitive ZnO powders. Due to the features of plasma treatment in the open atmosphere of zinc metal microparticles, ZnO structures are formed with sizes from hundreds of nanometers to several micrometers with various micromorphologies. The lattice parameters of ZnO structures are characteristic of a hexagonal unit with a = 3.258 Å and c = 5.21 Å, volume 47.95 Å³. The size of the crystallites is 48 nm. The plasma treatment was performed by means of a 2.45-GHz plasmatron at a power input of 1 kW in nitrogen flow at a rate of 1–10 L/min. Zn microparticles were injected into the microwave plasma at a mass rate of 20 g/min. High photoactivity was demonstrated (rate constants 0.036 min⁻¹ and 0.051 min⁻¹) of synthesized ZnO structures during photo-degradation of 2,4-dinitrophenol and ciprofloxacin, respectively, when exposed to solar radiation. Photo-active structures of ZnO synthesized using microwave plasma can find application in processes of mineralization of toxic organic compounds. Structures of ZnO synthesized using microwave plasma can find application in processes of mineralization of toxic organic compounds, and also in scintillation detectors, phosphors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metals and Materials: Science, Processes and Applications)

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15 pages, 12900 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Through-Thickness Inhomogeneity of Microstructures and Mechanical Properties in an As-Quenched Thin Specification High Strength NM450TP Steel Plate

by Guannan Li, Shuqing Lu, Jie Ren and Zheng Zhou

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(12), 7017; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13127017 - 10 Jun 2023

Viewed by 1369

Abstract

The inhomogeneity of microstructures and mechanical properties in an as-quenched thin specification NM450TP wear-resistant steel plate were quantitatively investigated. The results show that the microstructures exhibit inhomogeneous distribution through the thickness and the area percentage of martensite and ferrite grains varies regularly through the thickness, and the content of ferrite on the top surface of the plate is found to be two times that of ferrite at the core location and more than that of ferrite at the bottom surface. In addition, the steel plate exhibits the obvious anisotropy of tensile properties, the tensile strength paralleling to the rolling direction is lower than that along the transverse direction while the elongation paralleling to the rolling direction is better than that along the transverse direction. The result indicates that the deformation degree of prior austenite grains during hot rolling and the content of martensite after quenching dominate the mechanical properties while the ferrite content is not the main factor affecting the plasticity. The findings provide experimental evidences and lay a theoretical foundation for analyzing the subsequent processing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metals and Materials: Science, Processes and Applications)

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11 pages, 2852 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Number of Atoms and Doping Concentration on the Structure, Phase Transition, and Crystallization Process of Fe_1-x-yNi_xCo_y Alloy: A Molecular Dynamic Study

by Dung Nguyen Trong, Van Cao Long and Ştefan Ţălu

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(17), 8473; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12178473 - 25 Aug 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2025

Abstract

In this study, molecular dynamics simulations are employed to study the influencing factors such as doping concentration, number of atoms, and temperature on the structural characteristics, phase transition, and crystallization of Fe_1-x-yNi_xCo_y alloy. The results show that Fe_1-x-yNi_xCo_y alloy always exists with three metals, Fe, Ni, and Cu, which are distributed quite evenly according to the ratio of tap phase concentration. In Fe_1-x-yNi_xCo_y alloy, there are always six types of links, Fe–Fe, Fe–Ni, Fe–Co, Ni–Ni, Ni–Co, and Co–Co. Calculated results showed with the increases in the doping concentration, the length of links (r) has a constant value and the height g(r) of the Radial Distribution Function (RDF) has a modified value. The process of increasing the concentration of Fe doping, and reducing the concentration of Co doping leads to an increase in crystallization, a decrease in the size (l) of the alloy, and the total energy of the system (E_tot) increases and then decreases. Similarly, increasing the number of atoms leads to an increase in crystallization, but with an increase in temperature, the crystallization process decreases (that corresponds to the change in the number of structural units for the Face-centered cubic (FCC), Hexagonal Close-Packed (HCP), Body-centered cubic (BCC), and Amorphous (Amor)). The obtained results serve as a basis for experimental research in developing new magnetic materials in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metals and Materials: Science, Processes and Applications)

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15 pages, 3314 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Bulk Cu Material under Various Factors

by Dung Nguyen Trong, Van Cao Long and Ştefan Ţălu

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(9), 4437; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12094437 - 27 Apr 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3181

Abstract

In this paper, the molecular dynamics (MD) method was used to study the influence of factors of bulk Cu material, such as the effect of the number of atoms (N) at temperature (T), T = 300 K, temperature T, and annealing time (t) with Cu₅₃₂₄ on the structure properties, phase transition, and glass temperature T_g of the bulk Cu material. The obtained results showed that the glass transition temperature (T_g) of the bulk Cu material was T_g = 652 K; the length of the link for Cu-Cu had a negligible change; r = 2.475 Å; and four types of structures, FCC, HCP, BCC, Amor, always existed. With increasing the temperature the FCC, HCP, and BCC decrease, and Amorphous (Amor) increases. With an increasing number of atoms and annealing time, the FCC, HCP, and BCC increased, and Amor decreased. The simulated results showed that there was a great influence of factors on the structure found the gradient change, phase transition, and successful determination of the glass temperature point above T_g of the bulk Cu material. On the basis of these results, essential support will be provided for future studies on mechanical, optical, and electronic properties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metals and Materials: Science, Processes and Applications)

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