Protective Coatings and Surface Engineering for Asphalt and Concrete

A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412). This special issue belongs to the section "Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 1513

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
School of Civil Engineering, Shandong Jianzhu University, Jinan 250101, China
Interests: innovative construction materials; impact and blast-resistant design of concrete structures; fire resistance of concrete structures
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Civil Engineering, Shandong Jianzhu University, Jinan 250101, China
Interests: innovative construction materials; low-carbon high-performance concrete; emergency strengthening; fire and seismic resistance of concrete structures; structural health monitoring and vibration control
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Civil Engineering, Shandong Jianzhu University, Jinan 250101, China
Interests: durability of construction materials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The application of protective coatings and surface engineering is crucial for enhancing the durability, performance, and longevity of asphalt and concrete infrastructures. For concrete structures, advanced coatings—such as high-performance cement-based and epoxy-based systems—can significantly improve resistance to chemical attacks and environmental damage while also enhancing impermeability. As a result, durability and service life are improved. Over recent decades, developments in protective coatings and surface engineering have been substantial, leading to significant advances in material development and performance. Consequently, this Special Issue focuses on protective coatings and surface engineering for asphalt and concrete.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but not limited to) the following:

  • advanced coating materials;
  • high-performance cementitious composites;
  • the use of renewable materials for coatings;
  • the re-use of waste materials and industrial byproducts;
  • interfacial bond performance evaluation and prediction.

We look forward to receiving your contributions!

Dr. Tian-Feng Yuan
Prof. Dr. Kai Yan
Dr. Lianfang Sun
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
  • asphalt
  • cementitious composites
  • protection
  • interfacial property

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 2832 KB  
Article
Benefits of Fiber Hybridization on the Residual Performance of Ultra-High-Strength High Ductility Concrete at Elevated Temperatures
by Tian-Feng Yuan, Peijia Li, Zhuoyu Li, Kai Yan, Qian Zhang and Lianfang Sun
Coatings 2026, 16(3), 354; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings16030354 - 11 Mar 2026
Viewed by 359
Abstract
This study investigates the effects of fiber hybrid types, synthetic fiber types, and synthetic fiber replacement rate on the compressive and tensile properties of ultra-high-strength high-ductility concrete (UHSDC) at elevated temperatures. For the this, two types of synthetic fibers, i.e., polyethylene (PE) and [...] Read more.
This study investigates the effects of fiber hybrid types, synthetic fiber types, and synthetic fiber replacement rate on the compressive and tensile properties of ultra-high-strength high-ductility concrete (UHSDC) at elevated temperatures. For the this, two types of synthetic fibers, i.e., polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), and single straight steel fiber (SF), were considered. The test results showed that the PP fiber was most effective in improving the high-temperature spalling resistance and compressive and tensile performance of UHSDC under its low dosage. The steel fiber also exhibited effectiveness in enhancing the high-temperature spalling resistance, whereas PE fiber was ineffective in improving the spalling resistance. The hybridization type with PP fiber (PP + SF, PP + PE + SF) significantly improved residual compressive and tensile properties specifically; the specimens exhibited positive synergy after exposure to 150 °C and approximately over 98 units of synergy value after exposure to 450 °C. Thus, the ternary fiber hybrid method (PP + PE + SF) can significantly improve the tensile strain capacity and explosive spalling resistance, which provides the possibility for developing refractory UHSDC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Protective Coatings and Surface Engineering for Asphalt and Concrete)
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15 pages, 1969 KB  
Article
A Cellular Automata-Based Model for Simulating the Chloride Ion Diffusion Process of Concrete with Admixtures
by Jingnan Ding, Yexuan Zhou, Jinsong Zhu, Qingling Meng and Ankai Cao
Coatings 2026, 16(3), 331; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings16030331 - 8 Mar 2026
Viewed by 365
Abstract
To accurately simulate the chloride ion diffusion process in concrete containing mineral admixtures under coupled multi-factor effects, a cellular automata (CA)-based numerical model is developed to predict the chloride ion concentration at different depths and exposure times. The proposed model incorporates the influences [...] Read more.
To accurately simulate the chloride ion diffusion process in concrete containing mineral admixtures under coupled multi-factor effects, a cellular automata (CA)-based numerical model is developed to predict the chloride ion concentration at different depths and exposure times. The proposed model incorporates the influences of spatiotemporal variability, stress state, and admixture replacement ratio into the evolution rules of chloride transport. Accordingly, the time-dependent chloride diffusion coefficient is modified to account for the effects of fly ash and slag, enabling a more realistic representation of chloride transport behavior in admixture-modified concrete. Long-term field exposure test data reported in the literature are adopted to validate the proposed model. The simulated chloride concentration profiles at various depths and exposure durations show good agreement with experimental measurements, particularly at medium-to-long exposure ages. The results demonstrate that the CA model provides a reasonable and effective way for simulating chloride ion ingress in concrete with mineral admixtures. Furthermore, under comparable strength conditions, an increase in slag replacement ratio leads to enhanced resistance against chloride ion ingress, highlighting the significant role of mineral admixtures in improving the durability performance of concrete structures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Protective Coatings and Surface Engineering for Asphalt and Concrete)
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19 pages, 3697 KB  
Article
Study on Macroscopic Mechanical Properties and Microscopic Mechanism of Drilling Cuttings Solidified by Alkali-Activated Furnace Ash
by Achen Qi, Pei Wang, Yuanjie Zhu, Wei Liu, Jianghua Jia, Zixuan Wang, Wenjun Hu and Yumei Liu
Coatings 2026, 16(2), 266; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings16020266 - 23 Feb 2026
Viewed by 448
Abstract
To promote the resource utilization of oilfield solid waste and facilitate the green and low-carbon transformation of transportation infrastructure, this study employed drilling cuttings from the Maye area of the Xinjiang oilfield and coal-fired furnace ash as primary raw materials. NaOH, Na2 [...] Read more.
To promote the resource utilization of oilfield solid waste and facilitate the green and low-carbon transformation of transportation infrastructure, this study employed drilling cuttings from the Maye area of the Xinjiang oilfield and coal-fired furnace ash as primary raw materials. NaOH, Na2O·nSiO2, and Ca(OH)2 were used as alkali activators to prepare alkali-activated solidification materials for oilfield road base applications. The optimal curing system identified in this study (4 wt.% NaOH + 20 wt.% furnace ash) falls within the commonly reported dosage ranges for alkali-activated solid-waste materials, where NaOH contents are typically 3%–8% and furnace ash contents 15%–30%. Considering the distinct chemical characteristics of the Xinjiang oilfield solid wastes, a targeted optimization strategy was adopted to achieve a balance between mechanical performance and economic feasibility. Based on mix-proportion experiments, macroscopic mechanical properties were evaluated. In combination with X-ray diffraction (XRD), laser particle size analysis, simultaneous thermal analysis (TG–DSC), and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS), the influence of activator type on both mechanical performance and microstructural evolution was systematically investigated. The results indicate that the system containing 4 wt.% NaOH + 20 wt.% furnace ash exhibits the best overall performance, achieving a 28-day compressive strength of 4.81 MPa and a splitting tensile strength of 0.41 MPa, which are significantly higher than those of the Na2O·nSiO2 system (3 wt.% Na2O·nSiO2 + 20 wt.% furnace ash) and the Ca(OH)2 system (4 wt.% Ca(OH)2 + 15 wt.% furnace ash). The primary hydration products were identified as C-(N)-A-S-H and C-S-H gels. The type of alkali activator plays a decisive role in regulating hydration reaction kinetics and the spatial distribution of Ca and Si elements, thereby governing the hierarchical differences in macroscopic mechanical properties. In particular, NaOH generates a highly alkaline environment that promotes the dissolution of active Si/Al components in both drilling cuttings and furnace ash, enhances gel polymerization, and results in a denser microstructure. This study provides theoretical and technical support for the high-value utilization of oilfield solid wastes in highway base engineering. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Protective Coatings and Surface Engineering for Asphalt and Concrete)
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