Structure and Elemental Variations in Metals

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2025 | Viewed by 230

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Beijing Key Lab of Microstructure and Property of Advanced Materials, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
Interests: in situ; TEM; superalloy; microstructure; turbine blade
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Department TEXMAT, Clausthal University of Technology and Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht (HZG), Max-Planck-Str, D-21502 Geesthacht, Germany
Interests: materials characterization by X-rays; neutrons, synchrotron, and EBSD; instrumentation; texture, phase, and stress analysis; Mg, Al, and Ti alloys; industrial application
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Metals are characterized by their composition and structure, which are essential for their properties. Metals are made up of atom aggregates that are consistently organized in a crystalline structure, with pure metals having basic crystal structures, such as cubic or hexagonal unit cells. Metals typically have a crystalline structure, which includes grains and crystal structures. Each metal is defined by its unique atomic structure, which directly influences its physical and chemical properties. Understanding the elemental composition of metals is crucial when exploring their formation. Each metal is defined by its unique atomic structure, which directly influences its physical and chemical properties. The characteristics of metals, such as hardness, conductivity, and malleability, are rooted in their elemental makeup. By examining these properties, we gain insights into how metals can be used in various applications, from construction to electronics.

The main property modulation in metals relies on its elemental-determined structure, especially on structural alloys and metals. The structure, however, is mainly determined by many factors such as content, treatment, etc. Elemental variations in alloys changes their structure and corresponding properties, such as mechanical or corrosion properties. Understanding the relationships between elemental variation and its structure and properties are key factors for metal development.

In this Special Issue, structure and elemental variation and its properties in metals will be collected and published.

Guest Editor

Dr. Yanhui Chen
Dr. Heinz-Günter Brokmeier
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • metal
  • element
  • EDS
  • distribution
  • microstructure

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

10 pages, 5737 KiB  
Article
Effect of Solid Solution Treatment Routes on the Microstructure Configuration of a Third-Generation Ni-Based Superalloy
by Guo Yang, Ming Sun, Yanhui Chen and Haibo Long
Crystals 2025, 15(4), 303; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst15040303 - 26 Mar 2025
Viewed by 189
Abstract
The step and ramp heat treatments can improve the homogenization degree of the structure in superalloys. However, the comparison between them using the same temperate range and total holding time on the microstructure and the microstructural stability is still vague. The effects of [...] Read more.
The step and ramp heat treatments can improve the homogenization degree of the structure in superalloys. However, the comparison between them using the same temperate range and total holding time on the microstructure and the microstructural stability is still vague. The effects of step and ramp heat treatment in the same solution temperature range and the same hold time on the microstructural stability in a third-generation superalloy were studied. The sizes of γ′ phases at dendrite cores and dendrite edges are different, which is caused by the dissolution degree of the γ′ phase during solution treatment. A low degree of γ′ phase dissolution aggravates the dendritic segregation. Dendrite segregation makes refractory elements such as Co, Mo, W, and Re aggregate in the dendrite core, and the TCP phase is easy to nucleate and precipitate during long-term thermal exposure, resulting in decreased structural stability. The investigations in this study compare the differences and obtain optimized processes and parameters for the improvement of superalloys. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structure and Elemental Variations in Metals)
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