Metallurgical and Materials Data

The tremendous demand for ceramic materials with task-specific properties in diverse fields of human life is undeniable. These demanding applications impel the development of low-weight materials with outstanding corrosion and wear resistance and mechanical and thermal stability. Despite the other materials, ceramics have a vast spectrum of attractive properties, including low thermal conductivity, lightness, thermal shock resistance, and chemical inertness. Ceramics is hard but brittle. On the other hand, metal materials are typically malleable and ductile due to metallic bonding and its non-directional nature. They are relatively good conductors of electricity and heat, but their low corrosion resistance limits their application.

Advanced materials generally have assembled characteristics towards improved strength and toughness, higher operating temperatures, and durability. Careful control of the composition and manufacturing conditions precisely upgrades specific advanced materials, recommending them for aerospace, defense, power generation, and processing industries; for instance, developing alloys for laser hybrid welding results in a fine-grained microstructure that leads to high-strength welds. Also, the demanding application of ceramic refractories as furnace linings in metallurgy, especially in casting operations, implies materials resistant to cavitation erosion. In addition, producing durable refractories starting from natural materials could diminish the amounts of deposed mining tailing noted as waste. Furthermore, the novel characterization techniques and well-established knowledge from metallurgy provide more precise insight into strengthening and toughening mechanisms in ceramics.

Laser technology uses the phenomenon of stimulated radiation (emission) and amplification of light radiation as an energy source. In indirect laser interaction with Al-alloys, laser impact treatment is often used. In this process, significant coating mixing with the substrate is carried out, forming an alloyed surface layer with new phases and compositions. Bonds of ceramic and metal systems of various compositions can also be formed this way.

In this regard, the current issue of Metallurgical and Materials Data provides the recent research progress in advanced ceramic materials with new approaches. At present, the biggest challenge in industrial applications is fabricating engineering parts that are mechanically and thermally stable, corrosion-resistant, and durable. Thus, the advanced materials improve productivity, operating costs, performance, and quality.

Dr. Svetlana Ilić

Guest Editor