Tribology of Advanced Films and Coatings: Mechanisms, Properties, and Applications

A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412). This special issue belongs to the section "Tribology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 November 2026 | Viewed by 363

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical and Metallurgical Engineering, School of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 7820436, Chile
Interests: tribology; composites/coatings; 2D materials; additive manufacturing

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The control of wear and friction, the core focus of tribology, is critical for enhancing the longevity, reliability, and energy efficiency of mechanical systems across all engineering sectors. The strategic application of advanced films and coatings is the most powerful method to engineer surfaces that can achieve superior tribological performance. This field is rapidly evolving with the development of novel materials, nano-scale film architectures, and sophisticated deposition processes designed to meet extreme operational demands.

The aim of this Special Issue, entitled “Tribology of Advanced Films and Coatings: Mechanisms, Properties, and Applications”, is to collect and disseminate cutting-edge research on the design, characterization, and application of surface-engineered materials for friction and wear control. We seek the submission of contributions that deepen our understanding of tribological mechanisms at the interface of coated surfaces and provide innovative solutions for real-world challenges.

The scope of this Special Issue encompasses all aspects related to the tribological performance of engineered surfaces. We welcome the submission of original research, reviews, and case studies. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Design and Fabrication: Development of novel tribological coatings and films (e.g., nanocomposites, DLC, high-entropy alloys, 2D materials, multilayers). Advances in deposition techniques like PVD, CVD, thermal spray, and ALD.
  • Properties and Characterization: Experimental evaluation of wear resistance, friction coefficients, adhesion, and hardness. In situ and operando characterization of tribological behavior.
  • Mechanisms and Modeling: Fundamental investigation of wear mechanisms (abrasive, adhesive, fatigue, tribo-oxidation) in coated systems. Computational modeling of stress, strain, and damage evolution in films and coatings.
  • Performance in Environments: Tribological behavior under extreme conditions (high temperatures, corrosive media, vacuum, humidity). Synergistic effects of wear and corrosion.
  • Applications: Case studies in automotive, aerospace, manufacturing (cutting tools), energy, and biomedical implants where advanced coatings provide critical solutions.

Dr. Sangharatna M. Ramteke
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 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

  • wear resistance
  • tribological coatings
  • thin films
  • friction
  • surface engineering

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

16 pages, 18891 KB  
Article
Mechanical Properties and High Temperature Tribological Behavior of HfTaC Coating for Carbon/Carbon Composites
by Nan Wang, Jing Zhou, Zhaoxin Li, Jiumei Gao, Feilong Jia, Yan Qi, Xu Chen, Hao Lin, Hongliang Liu and Shusheng Xu
Coatings 2026, 16(5), 588; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings16050588 (registering DOI) - 12 May 2026
Viewed by 181
Abstract
HfC, TaC, and HfTaC composite coatings were successfully fabricated on SiC-coated carbon/carbon (C/C) composites using the double glow plasma alloying (DGPA) technique. The microstructure, mechanical properties, and tribological behaviors of the coatings were systematically investigated. The HfTaC coating exhibited a dense and uniform [...] Read more.
HfC, TaC, and HfTaC composite coatings were successfully fabricated on SiC-coated carbon/carbon (C/C) composites using the double glow plasma alloying (DGPA) technique. The microstructure, mechanical properties, and tribological behaviors of the coatings were systematically investigated. The HfTaC coating exhibited a dense and uniform structure with good interfacial integrity and a compositionally graded transition layer, effectively relieving thermal stress. The hardness of HfTaC and HfC coatings (approximately 12 GPa) was higher than that of the TaC coating. Moreover, the higher K value (1.02) and H/E ratio (H/E = 0.09, H3/E2 = 0.085 GPa) indicate that the HfTaC coating exhibits good load-bearing capacity and toughness. Under both 5 N and 15 N loads in the reciprocating friction, the HfTaC coating maintained the lowest and most stable friction coefficient (~0.18). Under the 15 N load, it exhibited the smallest specific wear rate. Observation of the wear scars revealed that the HfC and TaC coatings suffered from pore formation and flake-like spallation, while the HfTaC coating retained structural integrity with only minor cracks. In high-temperature ball-on-disc friction tests up to 500 °C, the wear mechanism of the HfTaC coating gradually transitioned from mild abrasive wear to severe oxidative and adhesive wear, yet the HfTaC coating still provided effective protection. These findings demonstrate that the DGPA-fabricated HfTaC coating is a promising candidate for enhancing the wear resistance and service durability of C/C composites. Full article
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