Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.1
3.4
Journals
Coatings
Special Issues
Ceramic-Based Coatings for High-Performance Applications
share announcement

Ceramic-Based Coatings for High-Performance Applications

A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412). This special issue belongs to the section "Ceramic Coatings and Engineering Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 February 2027 | Viewed by 5354

Editor

Prof. Dr. Yuhou Wu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of mechanical engineering, Shenyang Jianzhu University, Shenyang 110168, China
Interests: ceramic-based coatings; solid lubricant coatings; tribology of coatings and lubricants; tribology in extreme operating conditions; nanostructures; physical vapor deposition; chemical vapor deposition

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Ceramic-based coatings have shown extensive application value in multiple fields due to their unique physical and chemical properties, especially in key industries such as aerospace, automotive manufacturing, energy technology, and medical devices. The aim of this Special Issue is to analyse and publicise the progress and current state of knowledge in the field of ceramic-based coatings and related materials.

The topics of interest for this Special Issue include, but are not restricted to, the following:

  • Chemical, physical, and technological properties of ceramic-based coatings and related materials;
  • Problems and methods of preparation, manufacturing, and application of ceramic-based coatings and related materials;
  • Experimental and processing high-performance coatings with exposure to high temperatures, high stress, and other extreme environment applications;
  • Theoretical and computational modelling of surfaces and interfaces;
  • Recent developments in ceramic-based coatings and related materials;
  • Physical and chemical vapour deposition techniques;
  • Any other aspects of ceramic-based coatings and related materials.

Prof. Dr. Yuhou Wu
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-anonymized 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

  • ceramic-based coatings
  • preparation methods
  • structural characterizations
  • high-performance applications
  • damage evolution modelling of coatings

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

14 pages, 28113 KB  
Article
High-Temperature Tribological Behavior of CrAlN/CrAlN-Ag Composite Coatings
by He Lu, Yuhou Wu and Jinghua Li
Coatings 2026, 16(6), 636; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings16060636 - 25 May 2026
Viewed by 257
Abstract
To further improve the high-temperature dry sliding performance of Si3N4 ceramics, a CrAlN transition layer was introduced to improve interfacial stability, while Ag was incorporated as a solid lubricant into the CrAlN matrix. The effects of Ag content on the [...] Read more.
To further improve the high-temperature dry sliding performance of Si3N4 ceramics, a CrAlN transition layer was introduced to improve interfacial stability, while Ag was incorporated as a solid lubricant into the CrAlN matrix. The effects of Ag content on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the coatings were systematically examined, and the tribological performance was evaluated from 25 °C to 550 °C under dry sliding conditions. The Ag concentration increased with increasing Ag target power and affected the morphology, nanoparticle distribution, surface roughness, and mechanical properties of the coatings. Among the tested samples, the coating containing 9.6 at.% Ag exhibited a comparatively favorable combination of mechanical properties within the investigated composition range, with a hardness of 11.5 GPa, an H/E ratio of 0.0913, and an H3/E2 value of 0.096 GPa. Tribological tests showed that the average coefficient of friction decreased from 0.32 at 25 °C to 0.12 at 550 °C. This reduction may be associated with temperature-assisted Ag redistribution toward the worn surface and the possible development of Ag-rich surface features at elevated temperatures. However, the wear rate increased with temperature, reaching 3.6 × 10−5 mm3/(N·m) at 550 °C, suggesting that friction reduction was accompanied by increased material removal and possible near-surface weakening. These results indicate that controlling Ag content is important for balancing friction reduction and wear resistance in ceramic-based self-lubricating coatings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ceramic-Based Coatings for High-Performance Applications)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 6995 KB  
Article
Amorphous Carbon-Mediated Microstructural Optimization for Enhanced Thermal Shock Resistance in TaC/Amorphous-Carbon Coatings
by Yi Hu, Jian Peng, Huanjun Jiang, Qiang Shen and Chuanbin Wang
Coatings 2026, 16(3), 345; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings16030345 - 10 Mar 2026
Viewed by 534
Abstract
TaC/amorphous-carbon (TaC/a-C) composite coatings with varied a-C contents were deposited on graphite by dual-target magnetron sputtering to mitigate the thermal-expansion mismatch that commonly triggers cracking and spallation in TaC coatings on carbon substrates during rapid thermal cycling. However, existing TaC–C (often termed “free [...] Read more.
TaC/amorphous-carbon (TaC/a-C) composite coatings with varied a-C contents were deposited on graphite by dual-target magnetron sputtering to mitigate the thermal-expansion mismatch that commonly triggers cracking and spallation in TaC coatings on carbon substrates during rapid thermal cycling. However, existing TaC–C (often termed “free carbon”) approaches rarely identify the carbon’s structural state and spatial distribution explicitly, and a clear correlation between carbon fraction, thermal-shock-driven microstructural evolution, and cyclic damage remains insufficiently established. Increasing the a-C fraction progressively refines the TaC grain structure and introduces an a-C phase along grain boundaries, thereby lowering the effective coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and improving compatibility with the graphite substrate. Under laser thermal cycling, coatings with higher a-C contents exhibit markedly enhanced resistance to cracking and spallation. After 15 cycles, the high-a-C (~28.99 at.%) coating remains free of through-thickness cracks, maintains its thickness, and retains a single-phase TaC structure without detectable Ta2C, whereas the low-a-C coating shows severe thinning, through-cracks, and partial TaC → Ta2C transformation. Microstructural observations indicate that the a-C phase forms a compliant, stress-relaxing boundary network and promotes a porous, mechanically interlocked TaC architecture, synergistically redistributing thermal stresses and deflecting crack propagation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ceramic-Based Coatings for High-Performance Applications)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 5379 KB  
Article
Discrete Element Method Simulation of Silicon Nitride Ceramic Bearings with Prefabricated Crack Defects
by Chuanyu Liu, Xiaojiao Gu, Xuedong Chen, Linhui Yu and Zhenwei Zhu
Coatings 2026, 16(2), 160; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings16020160 - 26 Jan 2026
Viewed by 572
Abstract
Silicon nitride (Si3N4) ceramic bearings inevitably contain crack-like defects, yet their compressive capacity degradation and crack-driven failure mechanisms remain unclear. This study proposes a discrete element method (DEM) numerical framework within PFC2D to simulate a bearing containing a single [...] Read more.
Silicon nitride (Si3N4) ceramic bearings inevitably contain crack-like defects, yet their compressive capacity degradation and crack-driven failure mechanisms remain unclear. This study proposes a discrete element method (DEM) numerical framework within PFC2D to simulate a bearing containing a single prefabricated crack. First, a bearing DEM model was established and calibrated to reproduce the compressive mechanical response. Then, particle deletion introduced controllable central cracks in the ball and raceway with prescribed inclination angles. Finally, displacement-controlled compression-splitting simulations, serving as a surrogate for a quasi-static overload scenario relevant to quality screening, tracked crack initiation, propagation, and failure modes; under a fixed raceway-crack inclination, crack length was varied to quantify size effects. Results show that a single crack markedly reduces compressive strength. Failure progresses through elastic deformation, crack propagation, and final fracture, with cracks initiating at stress concentrators near crack tips. Crack inclination significantly regulates capacity: raceway cracks are most detrimental near 45°, while ball cracks exhibit an overall decrease in initiation and peak stresses with increasing inclination (with local non-monotonicity). Crack length has a stronger weakening effect than inclination, with accelerated capacity loss beyond 0.3 mm and a pronounced drop in initiation stress beyond 0.6 mm. The framework enables controllable defect parametrization and micro-scale failure interpretation for defect sensitivity assessment under compressive overload. Thus, this study focuses on simulating monotonic fracture events to elucidate fundamental defect–property relationships, which provides a foundation distinct from the prediction of rolling contact fatigue life under cyclic service conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ceramic-Based Coatings for High-Performance Applications)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

13 pages, 2184 KB  
Article
A Comparative Study on the High-Temperature Oxidation Behavior and Mechanisms of Micro/Nanoparticle Composite-Modified Chromium Carbide Metal Ceramic Coatings
by Linwen Wang, Jiawei Wang, Haiyang Lu, Jiyu Du, Xiaoxia Qi, Laixiao Lu and Ziwu Liu
Coatings 2025, 15(7), 826; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15070826 - 15 Jul 2025
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1237
Abstract
To enhance the high-temperature oxidation resistance of chromium carbide metal ceramic coatings, micro/nanoparticle modification was applied to the alloy binder phase of the typical Cr3C2-NiCr coating. This led to the development of Cr3C2-NiCrCoMo and Cr [...] Read more.
To enhance the high-temperature oxidation resistance of chromium carbide metal ceramic coatings, micro/nanoparticle modification was applied to the alloy binder phase of the typical Cr3C2-NiCr coating. This led to the development of Cr3C2-NiCrCoMo and Cr3C2-NiCrCoMo/nano-CeO2 coatings with superior high-temperature oxidation performance. This study compares the high-temperature oxidation behavior of these coating samples and explores their respective oxidation mechanisms. The results indicate that the addition of CoCrMo improves the compatibility between the oxide film and the coating, enhancing the microstructure and integrity of the oxide film. Compared to Cr3C2-NiCrCoMo coatings, the incorporation of nano-CeO2 promotes the reaction between oxides in the Cr3C2-NiCrCoMo/nano-CeO2 coating, increasing the content of binary spinel phases, reducing thermal stress at the oxide–coating interface, and improving the adhesion strength of the oxide film. As a result, the oxidation rate of the coating is reduced, and its oxidation resistance is improved. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ceramic-Based Coatings for High-Performance Applications)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 5796 KB  
Article
Investigation of Microstructure and Hydrogen Barrier Behavior in Epoxy Resin-Based Ceramic/Graphene Composite Coatings
by Nongzhao Mao, Heping Wang, Bin Liu, Hongbo Zhao, Lei Wang, Ayu Zhang, Jiarui Deng and Keren Zhang
Coatings 2025, 15(7), 764; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15070764 - 27 Jun 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2200
Abstract
This study addresses the critical challenges of hydrogen permeation and embrittlement in metallic pipelines for hydrogen storage and transportation by developing an epoxy resin-based composite coating with enhanced hydrogen barrier properties. Using cold spray technology, the fabricated coatings with controlled 250–320 μm thicknesses [...] Read more.
This study addresses the critical challenges of hydrogen permeation and embrittlement in metallic pipelines for hydrogen storage and transportation by developing an epoxy resin-based composite coating with enhanced hydrogen barrier properties. Using cold spray technology, the fabricated coatings with controlled 250–320 μm thicknesses incorporating graphene/ceramic composite particles uniformly dispersed in the epoxy matrix. Microstructural characterization revealed dense morphology and excellent interfacial bonding. Electrochemical hydrogen charging tests demonstrated remarkable hydrogen permeation reduction, showing a strong positive correlation between coating thickness and barrier performance. The optimal 320 μm-thick coating achieved a hydrogen content of only 0.28 ± 0.09 ppm, representing an 89% reduction compared to that in uncoated substrates. The superior performance originates from the Al2O3/SiO2 networks providing physical barriers, graphene offering high-surface-area adsorption sites, and MgO chemically trapping hydrogen atoms. Post-charging analysis identified interfacial stress concentration and hydrogen-induced plasticization as primary causes of ceramic particle delamination. This work provides both fundamental insights and practical solutions for designing high-performance protective coatings in long-distance hydrogen pipelines. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ceramic-Based Coatings for High-Performance Applications)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-5
Back to TopTop