This symposium aims to spark discussion around cutting-edge advances on various topics relevant to conventional and advanced processing of lightweight metals and their alloys, including casting, forming, heat treatment, and surface modification. A particular focus is placed on additive manufacturing technologies and their potential to enable novel geometries, tailored microstructures, and high-performance and more sustainable lightweight components. Thus, contributions on powder and wire additive manufacturing of light alloys are encouraged. Contributions addressing process–structure–property relationships and process optimization are especially welcome. Applications that are connected to manufacturing these alloys for the automotive, aerospace & space, medical, energy, and mining sectors are sought after. 

This topic addresses the application of lightweight alloys such as those of aluminum, magnesium, and titanium in lightweight structures across automotive, aerospace, and other transportation sectors. The focus is on performance during processing or under service-relevant conditions, including mechanical behavior, fatigue, creep, crashworthiness, and environmental resistance. Studies linking material selection, design, and performance are encouraged.

Contributions under this topic focus on the design and development of new lightweight alloys and alloy concepts with enhanced or tailored properties. These include strategies for alloying, functional surface and bulk modifications, and approaches to improving strength and ductility properties. Corrosion resistance, and damage tolerance, or advanced approaches to multifunctionality such as sensor integration for condition monitoring shall also be covered. Both experimental and integrated design approaches are welcome.

This topic addresses joining technologies, and design strategies for multi-material lightweight materials and structures. Relevant contributions include welding, brazing, adhesive bonding, mechanical and hybrid joining techniques, as well as properties, interface engineering and characterization of composites. Emphasis is placed on overcoming challenges related to dissimilar material combinations and ensuring structural integrity and durability.

This topic focuses on experimental methods for characterizing lightweight materials across length and time scales. Contributions may include advanced microstructural characterization, in-situ and operando techniques, mechanical and functional testing, and non-destructive examination. Studies that link characterization results to material performance and reliability are particularly encouraged.

This topic covers modeling, simulation, and data-driven approaches for understanding and designing lightweight materials and processes. Contributions may span from atomistic and mesoscale simulations to continuum modeling, integrated computational materials engineering (ICME), and use of artificial intelligence, in particular machine learning methods. Emphasis is placed on predictive tools that support alloy design, process optimization, and performance assessment.

This special topic focuses on engineering materials and processes that enable sustainable, resource- and value-efficient manufacturing of lightweight metals while retaining or enhancing performance across various life cycles. Contributions may address circularity concepts considering all R-strategies from Reuse over Repair and Remanufacturing to Recycling, resilient processing routes, low-carbon and energy-efficient manufacturing, material flow analysis (MFA) and life cycle assessment (LCA). Studies bridging fundamental materials research and engineering with industrial or social implementation and sustainability goals are particularly welcome.