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Crystals
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Design, Development and Processing of Aluminium Alloys and Their Composite...
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Design, Development and Processing of Aluminium Alloys and Their Composite Materials

A special issue of Crystals (ISSN 2073-4352). This special issue belongs to the section "Crystalline Metals and Alloys".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2025 | Viewed by 3834

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Peng Tang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
Interests: materials science and engineering; mechanics of materials; composite material; design of multifunctional materials and structures
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Mingyi Zheng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
Interests: Mg alloys; severe plastic deformation; microstructure; texture; advanced experimental characterization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Kang Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan, China
Interests: additive manufacturing; light alloys; casting; numerical simulations; neutron diffraction
Dr. Xingzhi Pang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Resources, Environment and Materials, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
Interests: non-ferrous metal processing; Cu/C composite materials; biomedical materials; solid waste recycling; first-principles calculation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

Aluminium, the most abundant metallic element in the Earth's crust, is one of the most widely used non-ferrous metals in industry, second only to iron and steel in terms of its scope of use because of its good characteristics—low density, high specific strength, workability, and electrical conductivity, superior corrosion resistance, environmental protection and recyclability—and wide range of applications in the aviation, aerospace, construction engineering, and transportation fields.

The design, development, and processing of aluminium alloys and their composites occupy a pivotal position in modern industry to further enhance their toughness, wear resistance, and shear properties. In the case of aluminium alloy composites, researchers have effectively improved the materials’ toughness and wear resistance by introducing various reinforcing phases, such as ceramic particles, carbon nanotubes, and graphene. In this process, the nature, content, and distribution of the reinforcing phase, as well as its interfacial bond strength and wettability with the metal matrix, are the key factors determining the mechanical properties of metal matrix composites. Therefore, the ideal reinforcing phase not only needs to significantly enhance the specific properties of the metal matrix but also have a high degree of stability to avoid violent reactions with the matrix at high temperatures and ensure good metal matrix wettability in order to achieve an effective combination between the two. In addition to material design and development, the processing technology of aluminium alloys and their composites is also key to enhancing their material performance and application scope. Traditional processing methods such as casting, forging, and rolling meet these needs but have limitations, leading researchers to explore new technologies, such as powder metallurgy, EDM, and superplastic forming, to achieve higher precision, lower energy consumption, and better environmental performance.

This Special Issue will focus on the design, development, and processing technologies of aluminium alloys and their composite materials. We warmly invite you to contribute full papers, newsletters, and reviews on the latest developments and research results on this topic. 

Dr. Peng Tang
Prof. Dr. Mingyi Zheng
Dr. Kang Wang
Dr. Xingzhi Pang
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 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. Crystals 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 2100 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

  • aluminium matrix composite materials
  • composition
  • solidification
  • advanced characterization
  • phase composition–property correlation
  • recycled aluminium
  • green low-carbon aluminium alloy system research and development

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 8427 KiB  
Article
Spectroscopic Ellipsometry and Wave Optics: A Dual Approach to Characterizing TiN/AlN Composite Dielectrics
by Mohamed El Hachemi, Nikhar Khanna and Emanuele Barborini
Crystals 2025, 15(2), 143; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst15020143 - 29 Jan 2025
Viewed by 300
Abstract
In this paper, we present a method for retrieving the optical properties of a nano-designed TiN/AlN composite dielectric, using spectroscopic ellipsometry for experimental measurements and wave optics simulations for numerical analysis. Composite cermets have gained attention for solar–thermal energy conversion, but [...] Read more.
In this paper, we present a method for retrieving the optical properties of a nano-designed TiN/AlN composite dielectric, using spectroscopic ellipsometry for experimental measurements and wave optics simulations for numerical analysis. Composite cermets have gained attention for solar–thermal energy conversion, but their fundamental optical properties are not well understood. While characterizing uniformly deposited layers is generally straightforward, the process becomes more complex for nanoparticulate composites. The refractive index is essential for investigating and tuning the optical characteristics of the composite. Our method employs COMSOL Multiphysics software, validated by experimental spectroscopic ellipsometry studies. The strong agreement between experimental and numerical results supports this approach as a rational way to design material models for optical property studies across a broad spectrum. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design, Development and Processing of Aluminium Alloys and Their Composite Materials)
15 pages, 5538 KiB  
Article
Effect of Y on the Microstructures and Heat-Resistant Property of ZL109 Alloys
by Xiangdu Qin, Anmin Li and Xiang Li
Crystals 2025, 15(1), 75; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst15010075 - 14 Jan 2025
Viewed by 404
Abstract
The effects of rare earth Y on the microstructures and tensile properties of ZL109 alloys were studied through metallographic observation, scanning electron microanalysis, X-ray diffraction, and tensile experiments, and the existence form and mechanism of Y were analyzed. The results show that the [...] Read more.
The effects of rare earth Y on the microstructures and tensile properties of ZL109 alloys were studied through metallographic observation, scanning electron microanalysis, X-ray diffraction, and tensile experiments, and the existence form and mechanism of Y were analyzed. The results show that the grain size of the ZL109 alloy is obviously reduced and that the strength of the ZL109 alloy is significantly increased after adding the Y element. When the Y content is increased to 0.2 wt.%, the tensile properties of the ZL109 alloy at room temperature and 350 °C are better than those without a rare earth addition, and the comprehensive tensile properties are better. This is due to the addition of the Y element; α-Al dendrites are obviously refined, and there is a tendency for them to change into fine isometric crystals. The size of the eutectic Si decreases, and its shape is modified. The morphology and size of high temperature enhanced phases, such as Al3CuNi, are optimized. The heat-resistant enhanced phase Al2Si2Y is formed after the addition of rare earth Y. However, with the addition of the Y element, the Al2Si2Y phase increases, and coarsening results in the decrease in alloy strength. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design, Development and Processing of Aluminium Alloys and Their Composite Materials)
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19 pages, 9493 KiB  
Article
Numerical Simulation and Process Optimization of Laser Welding in 6056 Aluminum Alloy T-Joints
by Jin Peng, Shihua Xie, Tiejun Chen, Xingxing Wang, Xiaokai Yu, Luqiang Yang, Zenglei Ni, Zicheng Ling, Zhipeng Yuan, Jianjun Shi and Zhibin Yang
Crystals 2025, 15(1), 35; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst15010035 - 30 Dec 2024
Viewed by 533
Abstract
This paper conducts a numerical simulation of the laser welding process for 6056 aluminum alloy stringers and skin T-joints using Simufact Welding. Initially, the accuracy of the finite element simulation is validated, followed by an exploration of the impact of bilateral asynchronous and [...] Read more.
This paper conducts a numerical simulation of the laser welding process for 6056 aluminum alloy stringers and skin T-joints using Simufact Welding. Initially, the accuracy of the finite element simulation is validated, followed by an exploration of the impact of bilateral asynchronous and bilateral synchronous laser welding on molten pool stability. Process parameters, including laser power, welding speed, fixture clamping force, and preheat temperature, are optimized through orthogonal testing. Furthermore, the influence of welding sequences on post-weld equivalent stress and deformation in three stringers’ T-joints is analyzed. The numerical simulation results indicate that the stability of the molten pool is superior in bilateral synchronous welding compared to asynchronous welding. Optimized process parameters were obtained through orthogonal testing, and subsequent experiments demonstrated that the welding sequence of welding both sides first, followed by the middle, produced lower post-weld equivalent stress and reduced overall joint deformation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design, Development and Processing of Aluminium Alloys and Their Composite Materials)
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16 pages, 4348 KiB  
Article
Understanding the Interface Characteristics Between TiB2(0001) and L12-Al3Zr(001): A First-Principles Investigation
by Xingzhi Pang, Loujiang Yang, Hang Nong, Mingjun Pang, Gaobao Wang, Jian Li, Zhenchao Chen, Wei Zeng, Zhihang Xiao, Zengxiang Yang and Hongqun Tang
Crystals 2024, 14(11), 979; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst14110979 - 14 Nov 2024
Viewed by 713
Abstract
This study employs first-principles calculation methods to explore the characteristics of the TiB2(0001)/L12-Al3Zr(001) interface, including the atomic structure, adhesion work, interfacial energy, and electronic structure of various interface models. Considering four different terminations and three different stacking [...] Read more.
This study employs first-principles calculation methods to explore the characteristics of the TiB2(0001)/L12-Al3Zr(001) interface, including the atomic structure, adhesion work, interfacial energy, and electronic structure of various interface models. Considering four different terminations and three different stacking positions, twelve potential interface models were investigated. Surface tests revealed that a stable interface could be formed when a 9-layer TiB2(0001) surface is combined with a 7-layer ZrAl-terminated and a 9-layer Al-terminated Al3Zr(001) surface. Among these interfaces, the bridge-site stacking at the T/Al termination (TAB), hollow-site stacking at the Ti/ZrAl termination (TZH), top-site stacking at the B/Al termination (BAT), and hollow-site stacking at the B/ZrAl termination (BZH) were identified as the optimal structures. Particularly, the TAB interface exhibits the strongest adhesion strength and the lowest surface energy, indicating the highest stability. A Detailed analysis of the electronic structure further reveals that most interfaces predominantly exhibit covalent bonding, with the TAB, TZH, and BZH interfaces primarily featuring covalent bonds, while the BAT interface displays a combination of ionic and covalent bonds. The study ultimately ranks the stability of the interfaces from highest to lowest as TAB, BZH, TZH, and BAT. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design, Development and Processing of Aluminium Alloys and Their Composite Materials)
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20 pages, 11151 KiB  
Article
Toughening Mechanism of CaAl12O19 in Red Mud–Al2O3 Composite Ceramics
by Shiwei Jiang, Anmin Li and Zhengliang Wang
Crystals 2024, 14(11), 924; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst14110924 - 26 Oct 2024
Viewed by 600
Abstract
The utilization of red mud in the production of ceramic products represents an efficient approach for harnessing red mud resources. Composite ceramics were prepared from Al2O3, red mud, and Cr2O3 by atmospheric pressure sintering, and the [...] Read more.
The utilization of red mud in the production of ceramic products represents an efficient approach for harnessing red mud resources. Composite ceramics were prepared from Al2O3, red mud, and Cr2O3 by atmospheric pressure sintering, and the phase composition and microscopic morphology of the composite ceramics were investigated by XRD, SEM, and EDS. The flexural strength and fracture toughness of composite ceramics were measured by three-point bending and SENB methods. The results showed that the composite ceramics sintered at 1500 °C with the addition of 1.5 wt.% Cr2O3 had a flexural strength of 297.03 MPa, a hardness of 17.44 GPa, and a densification of 97.75% and fracture toughness of 6.57 MPa·m1/2. The addition of Cr2O3 helps to improve the low strength of red mud composite ceramic samples. The CaAl12O19 phase can form a similar “endo-crystalline” structure with Al2O3 grains, which changes the fracture mode of the ceramics and thus significantly improves the fracture toughness. The wettability tests conducted on Cu and RM–Al2O3 composite ceramic materials revealed that the composites exhibited non-wetting behavior towards Cu at elevated temperatures, while no interfacial reactions or elemental diffusion were observed. Composites have higher surface energy than Al2O3 ceramic at high temperatures. The present study provides a crucial foundation for enhancing the comprehensive utilization value of red mud and the application of red mud ceramics in the field of electronic packaging. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design, Development and Processing of Aluminium Alloys and Their Composite Materials)
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14 pages, 23510 KiB  
Article
Experimental Study of Reaming Sizes on Fatigue Life of Cold-Expanded 7050-T7451 Aluminum Alloy
by Muyu Guan, Qichao Xue, Zixin Zhuang, Quansheng Hu and Hui Qi
Crystals 2024, 14(9), 803; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst14090803 - 11 Sep 2024
Viewed by 739
Abstract
The split-sleeve cold expansion technology is widely used in the aerospace industry, particularly for fastening holes, to enhance the fatigue life of components. However, to ensure proper assembly and improve surface integrity, reaming of the cold-expanded holes is necessary. This study investigates the [...] Read more.
The split-sleeve cold expansion technology is widely used in the aerospace industry, particularly for fastening holes, to enhance the fatigue life of components. However, to ensure proper assembly and improve surface integrity, reaming of the cold-expanded holes is necessary. This study investigates the effects of cold expansion and reaming processes on the fatigue performance of 7050-T7451 aluminum alloy. Fatigue tests, residual stress measurements, and microstructural analyses of the hole edges were conducted on specimens with four different hole diameters after cold expansion and reaming. It was found that the depth of reaming significantly affects fatigue life. During the cold expansion process, the compressive residual stress formed around the hole effectively improves fatigue performance. The experiments demonstrated that reaming by 0.2 mm to 0.4 mm helps eliminate minor defects, thereby improving fatigue life. However, reaming beyond 0.5 mm may lead to stress relief and the removal of dense grains at the hole edges, reducing fatigue life. Therefore, determining the optimal reaming size is crucial for enhancing the reliability of aerospace fasteners. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design, Development and Processing of Aluminium Alloys and Their Composite Materials)
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