Microstructure Engineering and Surface Treatment of Titanium and Aluminum Alloys
This research community focuses on manipulating the internal crystal structure and surface layers of structural metals, primarily titanium and aluminum, to achieve specific combinations of strength, ductility, and fatigue resistance for demanding industrial applications.
The work centers on controlling microstructural evolution through heat treatment, hot deformation, and phase transformation, particularly in Ti-6Al-4V and near-β alloys. A significant portion of the research involves surface integrity enhancement via laser shock peening, shot peening, and ultrasonic modification to manage residual stress and improve fatigue life. The community also investigates the strength-ductility trade-off in metastable titanium alloys and aluminum alloys, often employing finite element modeling to predict deformation behavior. Recurring themes include the development of heterostructures, nanotwinned structures, and the influence of alloying elements on mechanical properties under various thermal and mechanical loading conditions.
The largest share of the community's output is found in titanium research, accounting for 3.9% of all titanium research, and 11,290 papers here. This is followed by aluminium, which contributes 0.9% of its research, and zirconium, contributing 0.4%.
The community comprises 20,542 papers, with the most frequent venues being Materials Science and Engineering: A, Journal of Alloys and Compounds, and Journal of Materials Research and Technology.
Recent work continues to focus on optimizing strength-ductility synergy in metastable β titanium alloys through novel deformation mechanisms and surface treatments. Specific investigations include the effects of electroshock treatment, ultrasonic nanocrystal surface modification, and the role of oxygen in enhancing uniform plasticity in α-β titanium alloys.