Next-Generation Surface Engineering for Corrosion Protection in Industry and Extreme Environments

A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412). This special issue belongs to the section "Corrosion, Wear and Erosion".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 802

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
CFUM-UP, Department of Physics, University of Minho, Campus of Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Interests: advanced surface functionalization; thin film deposition (PVD, sputtering, RF sputtering); environmentally friendly alternatives to hexavalent chromium; nanostructured and multifunctional coatings; surface–property relationships; additive manufacturing integration; energy storage thin films

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Guest Editor
CEMMPRE, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Coimbra, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal
Interests: coatings obtained by magnetron sputtering technology for corrosion inhibition; electrodes for HER/OER; multifunctional surfaces (antibacterial/anticorrosion/wear resistant); machine learning for coating assessment

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Guest Editor
CEMMPRE, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Coimbra, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal
Interests: the development of nano-structured thin films prepared by PVD techniques for application in demanding tribological conditions; development of advanced thin films via HiPIMS for engine components and sustainable metal; nitride coatings for tribological, piezoelectric and energy applications; development of advanced corrosion protection solutions for water heating systems, directly supporting industrial needs, coatings, sensors, and energy devices

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Corrosion is a critical challenge that affects the durability, safety, and performance of engineering materials across industries. From transportation systems to renewable energy technologies and advanced manufacturing, corrosion-related degradation leads to substantial economic losses and threats to safety. With the global shift toward sustainable technologies and the growing demand for longer service lifetimes in increasingly aggressive environments, such as marine, aerospace, oil and gas, there is an urgent need for advanced solutions that surpass conventional protective strategies. Surface engineering, encompassing novel coatings, surface modifications, and functional material design, has emerged as a powerful tool for the mitigation of corrosion, the enhancement of durability, and the reliable operation of components in extreme service conditions.

This Special Issue aims to compile innovative research and technological developments in the field of surface engineering for corrosion protection, with a particular focus on applications in mobility, transport, energy systems, and harsh environments. The collection will explore next-generation materials, coatings, and surface treatments that can withstand demanding operational conditions, while also considering sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and the potential for scale-up.

The scope of this Special Issue includes, but is not limited to, the following topics:

  • Electrochemistry of corroding interfaces;
  • Non-destructive evaluation of corrosion;
  • Role of nano- and microstructure in corrosion;
  • Corrosion-assisted cracking;
  • Corrosion and corrosion-assisted fracture of aerospace structures;
  • Corrosion of renewable/modern energy systems;
  • Corrosion of traditional energy systems;
  • Corrosion of nuclear energy systems;
  • Corrosion of weldments;
  • Corrosion in petroleum, oil and gas systems;
  • Corrosion in water systems;
  • Corrosion prevention and mitigation;
  • Corrosion-barrier coatings;
  • Corrosion of steel in concrete;
  • Corrosion of additively manufactured materials.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Edgar Carneiro
Dr. José David Castro
Dr. Ricardo Serra
Guest Editors

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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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

  • coatings
  • surface engineering
  • corrosion protection
  • extreme environments
  • sustainable materials

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

17 pages, 5676 KB  
Article
Comparative Study on the Mechanical Properties and Thermal Stability of Cr/Cr–N Multilayer Coatings with Different Phase Structures
by Xiaoyun Ding, Menghui Cui, Yong Lian, Yawen Wu, Yingchun Cheng, Haoxiang Cheng, Desheng Li and Jin Zhang
Coatings 2026, 16(5), 509; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings16050509 - 22 Apr 2026
Viewed by 473
Abstract
Cr–N coatings are promising for severe-service applications owing to their high corrosion and wear resistance, yet their performance is governed by phase constitution and multilayer architecture. In this study, a monolithic Cr coating and three Cr-based multilayer coatings, Cr/Cr(N), Cr/Cr2N, and [...] Read more.
Cr–N coatings are promising for severe-service applications owing to their high corrosion and wear resistance, yet their performance is governed by phase constitution and multilayer architecture. In this study, a monolithic Cr coating and three Cr-based multilayer coatings, Cr/Cr(N), Cr/Cr2N, and Cr/CrN, were synthesized by a hybrid DCMS/HiPIMS process and systematically compared with respect to structure, mechanical properties, and oxidation behavior at 900 °C. XRD and TEM showed that Cr/Cr(N) was primarily characterized by a bcc Cr-type structure, while the N-containing layers exhibited slightly expanded lattice spacings relative to pure Cr; no Cr2N precipitates were detected within the resolution of the analyses. Among the multilayers, Cr/Cr(N) provided the most favorable combination of hardness, adhesion, and indentation damage tolerance, reaching 885 HV and a critical scratch load of 80 N while maintaining damage tolerance comparable to monolithic Cr. By contrast, Cr/Cr2N and Cr/CrN displayed more pronounced brittle damage and lower interfacial reliability. Upon oxidation at 900 °C, Cr and Cr/Cr(N) formed relatively compact Cr2O3 scales, whereas Cr/Cr2N, and particularly Cr/CrN, experienced stronger oxidation-induced phase decomposition, blistering, and local delamination. These findings identify Cr(N) solid-solution sublayers as an effective alternative to brittle ceramic nitride layers. Full article
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