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Mechanical Performance and Microstructural Characterization of Light Alloys (2nd Edition)

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A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Metals and Alloys".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 March 2025 | Viewed by 8559

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Dr. Qinghuan Huo

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School of Materials Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
Interests: microstructure characterization; plastic deformation and recrystallization of light metals; mechanical property
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Dear Colleagues,

After our successful first volume of the Special Issue “Mechanical Performance and Microstructural Characterization of Light Alloys”, we decided to make the special issue as a collection on light alloy. Light alloys, such as aluminum, magnesium and titanium, are important materials for the automobile, aircraft, and electronic industries. In recent decades, fruitful studies have reported on the microstructure characteristics, mechanical performance, and the advantages of light alloys. Many outstanding studies have accelerated the fast progress of our everyday life. Of course, to the best of our knowledge, there are still many unknown theories and unsolved problems in light alloys. Thus, to further trigger the development of light alloys, we should research the relationship between microstructure characteristics and mechanical performance more deeply. For this reason, the present Special Issue “Mechanical Performance and Microstructural Characterization of Light Alloys” is proposed. This Special Issue aims to collect excellent studies on light alloys from around the world, including but not limited to aluminum alloys; magnesium alloys; titanium alloy; mechanical performance; microstructure characterization; heat treatment; plastic processing; precipitation; phase transformation; SEM; EBSD; FIB; TEM; and in situ X-ray.

We welcome you to submit your excellent work to this Special Issue, “Mechanical Performance and Microstructural Characterization of Light Alloys”, which will be published in Materials.

Dr. Qinghuan Huo
Guest Editor

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Keywords

aluminum alloys
magnesium alloys
titanium alloy
mechanical performance
microstructure characterization
heat treatment
plastic processing
precipitation
phase transformation

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Mechanical Performance and Microstructural Characterization of Light Alloys in Materials (12 articles)

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 7759 KiB

Open AccessArticle

SLM Magnesium Alloy Micro-Arc Oxidation Coating

by Xuejie Yue, Kangning Xu, Shuyi Wang, Hengyan Liu, Shiyue Guo, Rusheng Zhao, Gaopeng Xu, Hao Wang and Xuezheng Yue

Materials 2024, 17(20), 4988; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17204988 - 12 Oct 2024

Viewed by 702

Abstract

In this study, we utilized Selective Laser Melting (SLM) technology to fabricate a magnesium alloy, and subsequently subject it to micro-arc oxidation treatment. We analyzed and compared the microstructure, elemental distribution, wetting angle, and corrosion resistance of the SLM magnesium alloy both before and after the micro-arc oxidation process. The findings indicate that the SLM magnesium alloy exhibits surface porosity defects ranging from 2% to 3.2%, which significantly influence the morphology and functionality of the resulting film layer formed during the micro-arc oxidation process. These defects manifest as pores on the surface, leading to an uneven distribution of micropores with varying sizes across the layer. The surface roughness of the 3D-printed magnesium alloy exhibits a high roughness value of 180 nanometers. The phosphorus (P) content is lower within the film layer compared to the surface, suggesting that the Mg₃(PO₄)₂ phase predominantly resides on the surface, whereas the interior is primarily composed of MgO. The micro-arc oxidation process enhances the hydrophilicity and corrosion resistance of the SLM magnesium alloy, thereby potentially endowing it with bioactivity. Additionally, the increased surface roughness post-treatment promotes cell proliferation. However, certain inherent defects present in the SLM magnesium alloy samples negatively impact the improvement of their corrosion resistance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Performance and Microstructural Characterization of Light Alloys (2nd Edition))

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22 pages, 8368 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancing the Mechanical Properties of AM60B Magnesium Alloys through Graphene Addition: Characterization and Regression Analysis

by Song-Jeng Huang, Jeffry Sanjaya, Yudhistira Adityawardhana and Sathiyalingam Kannaiyan

Materials 2024, 17(18), 4673; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17184673 - 23 Sep 2024

Viewed by 691

Abstract

The light weight and high strength of magnesium alloys have garnered significant attention, rendering them suitable for various applications across industries. Nevertheless, to meet industrial requirements, the mechanical properties must be improved. This investigation explores the potential of graphene addition to enhance the mechanical properties of AM60B magnesium alloy. Tests were conducted on samples with different weight percentages (wt.%) of graphene (0 wt.%, 0.1 wt.%, and 0.2 wt.%) using stir casting. The elongation and tensile strength of the composite materials were also assessed. The phase composition, particle size, and agglomeration phenomena were analyzed using characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy, and SEM-EDS. The yield strength of the magnesium alloy was enhanced by approximately 13.4% with the incorporation of 0.1 wt.% graphene compared to the alloy without graphene. Additionally, an 8.8% increase in elongation was observed. However, the alloy tensile properties were reduced by adding 0.2 wt.% graphene. The tensile fractography results indicated a higher probability of brittle fracture with 0.2 wt.% graphene. Furthermore, regression analysis employing machine learning techniques revealed the potential of predicting the stress–strain curve of composite materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Performance and Microstructural Characterization of Light Alloys (2nd Edition))

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16 pages, 3432 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Process Parameters on Selected Properties of Ti6Al4V Manufacturing via L-PBF Process

by Janusz Kluczyński, Bartłomiej Sarzyński, Tomáš Dražan, Jakub Łuszczek, Robert Kosturek and Ireneusz Szachogłuchowicz

Materials 2024, 17(17), 4384; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17174384 - 5 Sep 2024

Viewed by 624

Abstract

This study investigates the microstructural effects of process parameters on Ti6Al4V alloy produced via powder bed fusion (PBF) using laser beam melting (LB/M) technology. The research focuses on how variations in laser power, exposure velocity, and hatching distance influence the final material’s porosity, microhardness, and microstructure. To better understand the relationships between process parameters, energy density, and porosity, a simple mathematical model was developed. The microstructure of the alloy was analyzed in the YZ plane using a confocal microscope. The study identified optimal parameters—302.5 W laser power, 990 mm/s exposure velocity, and 0.14 mm hatching distance—yielding the lowest porosity index of 0.005%. The material’s average hardness was measured at 434 ± 18 HV0.5. These findings offer valuable insights for optimizing printing parameters to produce high-quality Ti6Al4V components using PBF-LB/M technology, shedding light on the critical relationship between process parameters and the resulting microstructure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Performance and Microstructural Characterization of Light Alloys (2nd Edition))

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29 pages, 17913 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Bending Deformation and Stress of 6063-T5 Aluminum Alloy Multi-Cavity Tube Filled with Liquid

by Xinlong Zhang, Zhaosong Jiang, Shuang Zhao, Xiaodong Xie, Jiang Xiao, Xueyan Liu, Zhe Wu and Yang Zhang

Materials 2024, 17(13), 3230; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17133230 - 1 Jul 2024

Viewed by 778

Abstract

The production of aluminum alloy multi-lumen tubes primarily involves hot bending formation, a process where controlling thermal deformation quality is difficult. Specifically, the inner cavity wall of the tube is prone to bending instability defects under the bending stress field. To address these challenges in the bending deformation of aluminum alloy multi-lumen tubes, a multi-lumen liquid-filled bypass forming method is proposed in this paper. This study focuses on the 6063-T5 aluminum alloy double-lumen tube as the research object. The liquid-filled bending deformation behavior of the aluminum alloy double-lumen tube was investigated, and the deformation theory of the aluminum alloy double-lumen tube was studied. Through experimental and numerical simulation methods, the influence of support internal pressure, bending radius, and tube wall thickness on the liquid-filled bending deformation behavior of the double-lumen tube was examined. The results indicate that when the value of internal pressure was 7.5 MPa, the straightening of the outer wall was improved by 2.51%, the thinning rate of wall thickness was minimized, and the internal concave defect was effectively suppressed. The liquid-filled bending method provides a promising new approach for the integrated bending and forming of multi-lumen tubes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Performance and Microstructural Characterization of Light Alloys (2nd Edition))

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11 pages, 4421 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Transformation of Coherent Twin Boundary into Basal-Prismatic Boundary in HCP-Ti: A Molecular Dynamics Study

by Tao Sun, Qili Bao, Yang Gao, Shujun Li, Jianping Li and Hao Wang

Materials 2024, 17(9), 2165; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17092165 - 6 May 2024

Viewed by 1052

Abstract

The manufacturing process for wrought Ti alloys with the hexagonal close-packed (HCP) structure introduces a complicated microstructure with abundant intra- and inter-grain boundaries, which greatly influence performance. In the hexagonal close-packed (HCP) structure, two types of grain boundaries are commonly observed between grains with ~90° misorientation: the basal/prismatic boundary (BPB) and the coherent twin boundary (CTB). The mechanical response of the BPB and CTB under external loading was studied through molecular dynamic simulations of HCP-Ti. The results revealed that CTB undergoes transformation into BPB through the accumulation of twin boundary (TB) steps and subsequent emission of Shockley partial dislocations. When the total mismatch vector is close to the Burgers vector of a Shockley partial dislocation, BPB emits partial dislocations and further grows along the stacking faults. When a pair of CTBs are close to each other, severe boundary distortion occurs, facilitating the emission and absorption of partial dislocations, which further assists the CTB-BPB transformation. The present results thus help to explain the frequent observation of coexisting CTB and BPB in HCP alloys and further contribute to the understanding of their microstructure and property regulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Performance and Microstructural Characterization of Light Alloys (2nd Edition))

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17 pages, 9001 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation of the Penetration Performance of the Radial Forging Process for Wrought Aluminium Alloy

by Yongfei Wang, Linhua Xiong, Dongxiao Feng, Shengdun Zhao and Yi Guo

Materials 2024, 17(9), 2065; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17092065 - 27 Apr 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1320

Abstract

With the wide application potential of wrought aluminium alloy in aerospace, automobile and electronic products, high-quality aluminium bars prepared by the radial forging (RF) process have received extensive attention. Penetration performance refers to the depth of radial plastic deformation of forgings, which is the key factor in determining the quality of forging. In this work, the penetration performance of the radial forging process for 6063 wrought aluminium bars is investigated by simulation using FORGE software. The minimum reduction amount of the hammer is calculated based on the forging penetration theory of forging. The influence of process parameters including forging ratio (FR) and billet temperature on the effective stress and hammer load in the RF process are investigated. The RF-deformed billet is then produced with the optimal process parameters obtained from the simulation results. The average grain size of aluminium alloy semi-solid spherical material is used to evaluate the forging penetration. Simulation results showed that the effective strain at the edge and the centre of the RF-deformed billet gradually increases, but the increasing speed of the effective strain at the edge becomes low. The hammer load first decreases quickly and then gradually maintains stability by increasing the FR. It is found that low billet temperature and high FR should be selected as appropriate process parameters under the allowable tonnage range of RF equipment. Under an isothermal temperature of 630 °C and a sustaining time of 10 min, the difference in the average grain dimension between the edge and the centre positions of the starting extruded blank is 186.43 μm, while the difference in the average grain dimension between the edge and the centre positions of the RF-deformed blank is 15.09 μm. The improvement ratio of penetration performance for the RF-deformed blank is obtained as 91.19%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Performance and Microstructural Characterization of Light Alloys (2nd Edition))

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14 pages, 3253 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Chemical Composition on the Thermoplastic Formability and Nanoindentation of Ti-Based Bulk Metallic Glasses

by Mengliang Chen, Liu Zhu, Yingwei Chen, Sheng Dai, Qijie Liu, Na Xue, Weiwei Li, Jinfang Wang, Yingqi Huang, Kaice Yang and Ling Shao

Materials 2024, 17(7), 1699; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17071699 - 8 Apr 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 923

Abstract

A series of Ti₄₁Zr₂₅Be_34-xNi_x (x = 4, 6, 8, 10 at.%) and Ti₄₁Zr₂₅Be_34-xCu_x (x = 4, 6, 8 at.%) bulk metallic glasses were investigated to [...] Read more.

A series of Ti₄₁Zr₂₅Be_34-xNi_x (x = 4, 6, 8, 10 at.%) and Ti₄₁Zr₂₅Be_34-xCu_x (x = 4, 6, 8 at.%) bulk metallic glasses were investigated to examine the influence of Ni and Cu content on the viscosity, thermoplastic formability, and nanoindentation of Ti-based bulk metallic glasses. The results demonstrate that Ti₄₁Zr₂₅Be₃₀Ni₄ and Ti₄₁Zr₂₅Be₂₆Cu₈ amorphous alloys have superior thermoplastic formability among the Ti₄₁Zr₂₅Be_34-xNi_x and Ti₄₁Zr₂₅Be_34-xCu_x amorphous alloys due to their low viscosity in the supercooled liquid region and wider supercooled liquid region. The hardness and modulus exhibit obvious variations with increasing Ni and Cu content in Ti-based bulk metallic glasses, which can be attributed to alterations in atomic density. Optimal amounts of Ni and Cu in Ti-based bulk metallic glasses enhance thermoplastic formability and mechanical properties. The influence of Ni and Cu content on the hardness of Ti-based bulk metallic glasses is discussed from the perspective of the mean atomic distance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Performance and Microstructural Characterization of Light Alloys (2nd Edition))

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16 pages, 4290 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of the Microstructural, Mechanical and Corrosion Resistance Properties of Ti6Al4V Samples Manufactured by LENS and Subjected to Various Heat Treatments

by Anna Antolak-Dudka, Tomasz Czujko, Tomasz Durejko, Wojciech J. Stępniowski, Michał Ziętala and Justyna Łukasiewicz

Materials 2024, 17(5), 1166; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17051166 - 1 Mar 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 888

Abstract

In this paper, the influences of two post-heat treatments on the structural, mechanical and corrosion resistance properties of additively manufactured Ti6Al4V alloys were discussed in detail. The materials were produced using the laser engineering net shaping (LENS) technique, and they were subjected to annealing without pressure and hot isostatic pressing (HIP) under a pressure of 300 MPa for 30 min at temperatures of 950 °C and 1050 °C. Annealing without pressure led to the formation of a thin plate structure, which was accompanied by decreasing mechanical properties and increasing elongation and corrosion resistance values. For the HIP process, the formation of a thick plate structure could be observed, resulting in the material exhibiting optimal mechanical properties and unusually high elongation. The best mechanical and corrosion resistance properties were obtained for the material subjected to HIP at 950 °C. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Performance and Microstructural Characterization of Light Alloys (2nd Edition))

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23 pages, 12165 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of FSW Process Parameters for Lap Joints Made of Thin 7075 Aluminum Alloy Sheets

by Piotr Lacki, Anna Derlatka, Wojciech Więckowski and Janina Adamus

Materials 2024, 17(3), 672; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17030672 - 30 Jan 2024

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1031

Abstract

The article describes machine learning using artificial neural networks (ANNs) to develop the parameters of the friction stir welding (FSW) process for three types of aluminum joints (EN AW 7075). The ANNs were built using a total of 608 experimental data. Two types of networks were built. The first one was used to classify good/bad joints with MLP 7-19-2 topology (one input layer with 7 neurons, one hidden layer with 19 neurons, and one output layer with 2 neurons), and the second one was used to regress the tensile load-bearing capacity with MLP 7-19-1 topology (one input layer with 7 neurons, one hidden layer with 19 neurons, and one output layer with 1 neuron). FSW parameters, such as rotational speed, welding speed, and joint and tool geometry, were used as input data for ANN training. The quality of the FSW joint was assessed in terms of microstructure and mechanical properties based on a case study. The usefulness of both trained neural networks has been demonstrated. The quality of the validation set for the regression network was approximately 93.6%, while the errors for the confusion matrix of the test set never exceeded 6%. Only 184 epochs were needed to train the regression network. The quality of the validation set was approximately 87.1%. Predictive maps were developed and presented in the work, allowing for the selection of optimal parameters of the FSW process for three types of joints. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Performance and Microstructural Characterization of Light Alloys (2nd Edition))

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