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Advanced Materials and Processing Technologies

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Manufacturing Processes and Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 December 2025 | Viewed by 3676

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Materials, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Zagreb, Ivana Lučića 5, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: materials science and engineering; nanotechnology; advanced ceramics; corrosion mechanisms; wear mechanisms; sintering; forming ceramics; advanced synthesis processes; photocatalysis; advanced oxidation technologies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Department of Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Split, Ruđera Boškovića 32, HR-21000 Split, Croatia
Interests: conventional and non-conventional manufacturing technologies; CAD/CAM systems; machine tools; modeling and optimization of manufacturing processes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Materials, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Zagreb, Ivana Lučića 5, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: advanced ceramics; sintering; composites; modelling; neural networks; recycling; waste; sustainability; corrosion and wear mechanisms; mechanical and microstructural properties
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Industrial advancement is intrinsically linked to the development and implementation of innovative structural materials and processing technologies, as well as the efficient utilization of current and emerging energy sources. Emphasis is also placed on the organization of production processes, quality management, and environmental sustainability.

This Special Issue, “Advanced Materials and Processing Technologies”, will focus on various types of advanced materials produced using recent technologies. Special attention will be given to optimizing production processes to enhance material properties (mechanical, corrosion, electrical, thermal, etc.) while also considering sustainability and environmental protection.  

This Special Issue of Materials aims to present novel research and developments in the fields of production mechanical technologies, structural materials, industrial engineering, energy engineering, advanced design technology, production management, quality management, environmental protection, computer simulations of production processes, wear, and tribology.

We invite you to submit a manuscript for this Special Issue. Full papers, communications, and reviews are all welcome. We look forward to receiving your submissions.

This Special Issue is associated with the 13th International Conference Mechanical Technologies and Structural Materials 2024 (MTSM 2024), which will be held in Split, Croatia, on September 19–20, 2024. For more information about the event, please visit the following link: www.strojarska-tehnologija.hr

Nevertheless, we encourage all scholars, including those who do not plan to attend the conference, to submit their papers to this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Lidija Ćurković
Prof. Dr. Sonja Jozić
Prof. Dr. Irena Žmak
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. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2600 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

  • advanced materials
  • characterization
  • computer simulations of production processes
  • corrosion
  • energy engineering
  • industrial engineering
  • production management
  • production processes
  • environmental approach or environmental issues
  • wear and tribology

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 4691 KiB  
Article
Impact of KNO3-Based Salt Nitriding Treatment on the Microstructure and Corrosion Resistance of Steel 20MnCr5
by Matej Fonović, Dario Kvrgić, Lovro Liverić and Ivna Kavre Piltaver
Materials 2025, 18(8), 1857; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18081857 - 18 Apr 2025
Viewed by 152
Abstract
This study investigates the impact of KNO3-based salt bath nitriding on the microstructure, hardness, and corrosion resistance of 20MnCr5 steel. The nitriding process was conducted at 600 °C for 3 h and resulted in a nitrogen diffusion zone with a thickness [...] Read more.
This study investigates the impact of KNO3-based salt bath nitriding on the microstructure, hardness, and corrosion resistance of 20MnCr5 steel. The nitriding process was conducted at 600 °C for 3 h and resulted in a nitrogen diffusion zone with a thickness that varied across the specimen, reaching a maximum of 70 μm. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed no detectable nitrides, indicating nitrogen primarily occupied interstitial sites in the ferrite lattice and caused a lattice expansion of ~0.16%. Nanoindentation measurements showed an 80% increase in surface hardness (10.2 GPa) compared to the substrate (5.67 GPa), attributed to the solid solution strengthening mechanism. In contrast, however, an 18% decrease in Young’s modulus was observed near the surface, likely due to nitrogen-induced lattice distortions and crystal defects. Electrochemical tests in a 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution showed improved corrosion resistance, with the nitrided specimen exhibiting a 58% lower corrosion rate (1.275 mm/year) compared to untreated steel (3.04 mm/year). Despite a cathodic shift in corrosion potential, indicating localized susceptibility, the surface layer acted as a partial barrier to chloride ingress. The study demonstrates that KNO3-based salt nitriding is an environmentally friendly alternative to cyanide-based processes that offers good surface hardness and corrosion resistance, but needs to be further optimized. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Materials and Processing Technologies)
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17 pages, 33021 KiB  
Article
The Effects of Certain Processing Technologies on the Cavitation Erosion of Lamellar Graphite Pearlitic Grey Cast Iron
by Eduard Riemschneider, Ion Mitelea, Ilare Bordeașu, Corneliu Marius Crăciunescu and Ion Dragoș Uțu
Materials 2025, 18(6), 1358; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18061358 - 19 Mar 2025
Viewed by 214
Abstract
Lamellar graphite pearlitic grey cast irons are frequently used in the manufacturing of components that operate under cavitation erosion conditions. Their poor performance regarding cavitation erosion limits their use in intense cavitation environments. The physical modification of the surface layer offers a flexible [...] Read more.
Lamellar graphite pearlitic grey cast irons are frequently used in the manufacturing of components that operate under cavitation erosion conditions. Their poor performance regarding cavitation erosion limits their use in intense cavitation environments. The physical modification of the surface layer offers a flexible and cost-effective way to combat cavitation attacks without altering the core properties. This paper comparatively analyzes the effects of four technological processing methods on the cavitation erosion resistance of grey cast irons. Cavitation erosion tests were conducted on a vibrating device with piezoceramic crystals in accordance with the ASTM G32-2016 standard. Surface hardness tests were carried out using a Vickers hardness tester, while roughness measurements were performed using a Mitutoyo device. The microstructures generated by the applied technologies and the surface wear mechanisms were analyzed using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicated that the TIG local surface remelting process provides the most significant improvement in cavitation erosion resistance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Materials and Processing Technologies)
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21 pages, 6452 KiB  
Article
Thermal–Fluid–Structure Interaction Analysis of the Impact of Structural Modifications on the Stress and Flow Parameters in a Nozzle Box Made of StE460 Steel
by Mateusz Bryk, Marcin Lemański and Paweł Madejski
Materials 2024, 17(24), 6287; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17246287 - 23 Dec 2024
Viewed by 680
Abstract
This study explores the impact of structural modifications on the stress distribution and flow characteristics of a nozzle box in a steam turbine, specifically targeting the components made from high-strength StE460 steel. Using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFDs) and Thermal–Fluid–Structure Interaction (Thermal–FSI) simulations, we [...] Read more.
This study explores the impact of structural modifications on the stress distribution and flow characteristics of a nozzle box in a steam turbine, specifically targeting the components made from high-strength StE460 steel. Using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFDs) and Thermal–Fluid–Structure Interaction (Thermal–FSI) simulations, we examine the effects of shortening the nozzle guide vanes by 7 mm. This novel approach significantly reduces the stress levels within the nozzle box segments, bringing them below the critical thresholds and thus enhancing component durability. Moreover, the modification leads to improved flow efficiency, evidenced by the higher outlet velocities, temperatures, and mass flow rates, all of which contribute to increased turbine power output without negatively impacting the downstream flow dynamics. This balance between durability and flow performance underscores the value of targeted structural innovations in high-temperature, high-stress environments. This study’s findings suggest that such modifications can substantially improve turbine efficiency and operational longevity, marking an important advancement in industrial applications where reliability and efficiency are paramount. Future work will assess the long-term effects under variable operational conditions to further optimize these benefits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Materials and Processing Technologies)
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13 pages, 4275 KiB  
Article
Facile Formation of Metallic Surface with Microroughness via Spray-Coating of Copper Nanoparticles for Enhanced Liquid Metal Wetting
by Ji-Hye Kim, Ju-Hee So and Hyung-Jun Koo
Materials 2024, 17(21), 5299; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17215299 - 31 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1045
Abstract
This paper presents a simple, fast, and cost-effective method for creating metallic microstructured surfaces by spray-coating a dispersion of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) onto polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) substrates, enabling the imbibition-induced wetting of liquid metal. The formation of these microstructured patterns is crucial for [...] Read more.
This paper presents a simple, fast, and cost-effective method for creating metallic microstructured surfaces by spray-coating a dispersion of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) onto polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) substrates, enabling the imbibition-induced wetting of liquid metal. The formation of these microstructured patterns is crucial for the spontaneous wetting of gallium-based liquid metals. Traditional techniques for producing such microstructures often involve complex and costly lithography and vacuum deposition methods. In contrast, this study demonstrates that liquid metal wetting can occur with metal microstructures formed through a straightforward spray-coating process. To immobilize the CuNPs on the polymer substrate, an organic solvent that dissolves the polymer surface was employed as the dispersion medium. The effects of various spray-coating parameters, including distance and time, on the uniformity and immobilization of CuNP films were systematically investigated. Under optimal conditions (120 s of spray time and 10 cm spray distance), CuNPs dispersed in dichloromethane (DCM) yielded uniform and stable microstructured surfaces. The spontaneous wetting of gallium-based liquid metal was observed on the fabricated CuNP film. Additionally, liquid metal selectively wet the CuNP patterns formed by stencil techniques, establishing electrical connections between electrodes. These findings underscore the potential of spray-coating for fabricating metallic surfaces to drive the formation of liquid metal patterns in flexible electronics applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Materials and Processing Technologies)
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Review

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29 pages, 7282 KiB  
Review
The Impact of Pre- and Post-Treatment Processes on Corrosion Resistance of Micro-Arc Oxidation Coatings on Mg Alloys: A Systematic Review
by Jiuwei Chi, Hongliang Zhang, Shuyu Song, Weisheng Zhang, Xingyu He, Zhisheng Nong, Xue Cui, Teng Liu and Tiannan Man
Materials 2025, 18(3), 723; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18030723 - 6 Feb 2025
Viewed by 619
Abstract
As one of the lightest metallic structural materials, magnesium (Mg) alloys possess numerous distinctive properties and are utilized across a broad spectrum of applications. However, the poor corrosion resistance of Mg alloys limits their application. Micro-arc oxidation (MAO) is an effective surface treatment [...] Read more.
As one of the lightest metallic structural materials, magnesium (Mg) alloys possess numerous distinctive properties and are utilized across a broad spectrum of applications. However, the poor corrosion resistance of Mg alloys limits their application. Micro-arc oxidation (MAO) is an effective surface treatment method that enhances the corrosion resistance of Mg alloys. Nevertheless, the intrinsic porous structure of MAO coatings hinders significant improvement in corrosion resistance. Research indicates that the pre- and post-treatment processes associated with MAO markedly enhance the densification of the oxide coatings, thereby improving their overall performance. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review and analysis of the effects of various pre- and post-treatment processes, highlighting key advancements and research gaps in improving MAO coatings on Mg alloys. An in-depth analysis of the crucial role of pre-treatment in optimizing interfacial bonding and post-treatment in enhancing coating density is conducted using electrochemical testing and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Finally, the future development of pre- and post-treatment processes are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Materials and Processing Technologies)
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