Surface Engineering of Alloys: Durability and Performance
A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412). This special issue belongs to the section "Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2026
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Surface engineering stands as a pivotal discipline for enhancing the performance and extending the service life of metallic components across virtually all sectors of modern industry. In the realm of alloys—from lightweight aluminum and magnesium to high-strength steels and superalloys—the demands for superior durability, reliability and multifunctionality are ever-increasing. Spurred by the stringent requirements of applications in aerospace, automotive, biomedical implants and energy technologies, research is intensifying to develop surface solutions that can withstand extreme environments, including mechanical wear, corrosion, oxidation and their complex synergisms.
This pursuit is driven by advancements in our fundamental understanding of degradation mechanisms and the development of novel, often nanostructured, coatings and surface modification techniques. The design and manufacture of high-performance surface systems, whether through additive manufacturing, thermal spray, laser processing, plating or vapour deposition techniques, are unlocking unprecedented opportunities to tailor the surface properties of alloys independently from their bulk characteristics.
This Special Issue, “Surface Engineering of Alloys: Durability and Performance,” aims to serve as a premier platform for disseminating cutting-edge research and reviews that address the current challenges and future directions in the field. We invite contributions that explore the synthesis, characterization, modelling and performance evaluation of advanced surface engineering solutions for alloys.
The scope of this Special Issue will cover, but is not limited to, the following topics:
- Advanced Coating Technologies: Development of novel monolithic, composite, multilayered and gradient coatings;
- Innovative Surface Modification Processes: Research on processes such as laser cladding, plasma electrolytic oxidation, friction stir processing, shot peening and other thermo-chemical treatments;
- Multifunctional Surfaces: Coatings and surfaces that provide combined properties, such as corrosion-wear resistance, thermal barrier capabilities, anti-fouling or biocompatibility;
- Degradation Mechanisms: In-depth investigation of failure modes, including corrosion (uniform, pitting, stress corrosion cracking), wear, fretting, fatigue and their interactions (tribocorrosion);
- Performance under Extreme Conditions: Experimental and theoretical studies on the behaviour of surface-engineered alloys in high-temperature, high-stress, corrosive or erosive environments;
- Modelling and Simulation: Predictive modelling of microstructural evolution, residual stresses, coating growth and long-term performance and lifetime;
- Advanced Characterization: Application of in situ, operando and multi-scale techniques to understand structure-property relationships and degradation pathways.
Dr. Pengcheng Guo
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Coatings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- extreme environments
- reliability coatings
- performance modelling
- stress corrosion
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