Preface: process-structure-property relationship of lightweight metallic materials

The increasing demand for lightweight, high-performance materials in industries such as aerospace, automotive, and energy has driven the research and development of advanced metallic alloys.Among these, lightweight metallic materials, including aluminum, magnesium, and titanium alloys, stand out for their unique balance of strength, ductility, and thermal properties.These materials are key players in efforts to reduce structural weight without compromising mechanical integrity or thermal stability.This Special Section of the journal considers the relationship between processing, microstructure, and the resulting properties of these materials: it is a complex and multifaceted area of study.Microstructural characteristics such as phase composition, grain size, and secondary-phase distribution play a critical role in the definition of the mechanical and thermal