Jiangsu Province recently announced its 2025 Top Ten Scientific and Technological Advances by Industry. "Room-Temperature Cyclic Plasticity Strengthening and Synergistic Multifunctional Optimization of 5xxx-Series Aluminum Alloys," a research achievement by Professor Wenwen Sun's team at the School, was selected for the 2025 list in the New Materials, Chemical Engineering and Textiles category. This is the first research achievement from the School to receive this distinction, marking a major breakthrough in the School's record in this provincial selection.

Official list excerpt: No. 10; completing institution: Southeast University; principal contributors: Wenwen Sun, Yong Zhang and Hao Li.

The advance addresses the critical need to increase the strength of 5xxx-series aluminum alloys while simultaneously optimizing their multifunctional performance in service. Overcoming the limitations of conventional property-control routes for non-heat-treatable aluminum alloys, the team proposed a new room-temperature cyclic plasticity strategy. By using cyclic deformation to induce the evolution of defect structures and the redistribution of solute atoms, the approach achieves a synergistic combination of higher strength, retained ductility, improved corrosion resistance and stable in-service performance. The achievement provides a new theoretical basis and technical pathway for microstructural design and property enhancement in high-performance, lightweight aluminum-magnesium alloys. It is expected to advance the development of high-reliability aluminum-alloy materials for transportation, marine engineering, energy equipment and advanced manufacturing.

The Jiangsu Top Ten Scientific and Technological Advances by Industry are jointly organized by eight consortia of academic societies affiliated with the Jiangsu Association for Science and Technology. Open to relevant sectors across the province, the selection focuses on basic research, breakthroughs in key and core technologies, major application demonstrations and industrial innovation value. It aims to recognize scientific and technological achievements that are representative, innovative and exemplary. This recognition highlights the School's latest progress in fundamental research and technological innovation in advanced metallic materials, further strengthening its academic influence and research and innovation capabilities in related sectors.