Advanced Steels and Aluminum Alloys for Automotive Industry

Advanced High-Strength Steels (AHSS) and aluminum alloys represent two pivotal classes of materials with exceptional potential across a wide range of industrial applications, particularly in the automotive and manufacturing sectors. Their high strength-to-weight ratios and favorable formability make them essential enablers of next-generation engineering solutions aimed at achieving both performance and sustainability targets. The strategic relevance of AHSS and aluminum lies in their capacity to address critical contemporary challenges, such as vehicle safety, energy efficiency, and structural optimization. In particular, their lightweight nature significantly contributes to the development of fuel-efficient transport systems, supporting efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, their recyclability and compatibility with circular economy principles align both material families with the goals of sustainable manufacturing and carbon neutrality. Ongoing research into AHSS and aluminum alloys remains essential for several reasons. First, these materials play a key role in advancing the objectives of the Green Deal by enabling the production of lighter and more environmentally responsible components. Their application supports broader policy and societal ambitions toward a more sustainable industrial future. Second, continuous innovation in processing techniques—such as thermo-mechanical treatments, advanced forming processes, and heat treatment strategies—offers new pathways for improving mechanical performance, design flexibility, and economic viability. For aluminum alloys, developments in joining technologies and corrosion protection further extend their use in structural and functional components. Third, novel alloy design approaches for both AHSS and aluminum are yielding materials with optimized combinations of strength, ductility, and corrosion resistance, thereby expanding their suitability for demanding service environments. In-depth investigations into in-service performance continue to provide critical insights into material behavior under real-world conditions, guiding the development of tailored solutions.

This Research Topic aims to highlight the latest breakthroughs and state-of-the-art research in the field of AHSS and Advanced Aluminum alloys . It seeks to bring together original contributions that explore innovative processing techniques, advanced characterization methods, novel alloying strategies, and performance assessments. By providing a comprehensive forum for the dissemination of recent scientific and technological developments, this issue will serve as a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners committed to pushing the frontiers of knowledge in advanced high-strength steels.

Articles of interest for this Research Topic should be focusing on the study and characterization of innovative alloys, and the proposal of novel heat treatment routes, and alloy design methods capable of integrating metallurgical aspects with sustainability considerations.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review

Keywords: Steels, Aluminum, Automotive, Lightweight, Heat Treatments, High-pressure die casting, Medium manganese Steels, AHSS, TRIP-effect, Sustainability

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.