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Corrosion Resistance of Innovative Composite Coatings Based on Nanoparticles
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Corrosion Resistance of Innovative Composite Coatings Based on Nanoparticles

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 February 2026) | Viewed by 15572

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Marin Kurtela

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Guest Editor
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: aluminium alloys; corrosion inhibitors; coatings; nanoparticles; wire arc additive manufacturing; aircraft corrosion
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Ivan Stojanović

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Welded Structures, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: corrosion; metallic materials; corrosion protection methods; organic coatings
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Organic coatings are used as one of the key surface protection methods to protect different substrates against corrosion due to their cost efficiency and a variety of applications. In most metallic systems that are protected by organic coatings, the performance depends on the response of the coating to corrosion stresses to which they are exposed during operation. One of the most dangerous factors causing chemical damage to coatings is the acidic and chloride aggressive media. Such damage reduces protection effectiveness, thus leading to blistering, cracking, porosity, as well as loss of adhesion. Considering that the destruction of metals caused by corrosion generates extremely high costs globally, it is necessary to implement effective systems for avoiding corrosion and protecting against corrosion while respecting the limits defined to avoid an adverse environmental impact.

In order to reach the widest possible industrial application of organic coatings, further improvements in their protective properties should be achieved. Functionalizing and incorporating nanomaterials into coatings involves cutting-edge research techniques at the nano level. This aligns with the research focus on using nanotechnology to solve complex engineering challenges in various harsh environments. This Special Issue focuses on the development and application of advanced anticorrosion coatings that involve the preparation and characterization of functionalized nanomaterials, such as graphene and other organic and inorganic nanoparticles.

Suggested themes and article types for submissions include the following:

  • Recent Developments in Innovative Coatings Based on Graphene Nanoparticles;
  • Physical and Chemical Properties of Water-Based Coatings with Nanoparticles;
  • Composite Coating Systems and Innovative Application;
  • Nanoparticles and Composite Films with Antimicrobial and Corrosion Protection Properties;
  • Corrosion Resistance and Antifouling Performance of Composite Coatings;
  • Nanotechnology in Green Energy Applications.

    We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Marin Kurtela
Dr. Ivan Stojanović
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
  • nanoparticles
  • graphene
  • composite coating
  • antifouling
  • antimicrobial
  • nanotechnology
  • corrosion

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

6 pages, 179 KB  
Editorial
Corrosion Resistance of Innovative Composite Coatings Based on Nanoparticles
by Marin Kurtela and Ivan Stojanović
Coatings 2026, 16(4), 407; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings16040407 - 27 Mar 2026
Viewed by 485
Abstract
Organic coatings remain a cornerstone of corrosion protection strategies for metallic substrates due to their cost-effectiveness, ease of processing, and adaptability to diverse industrial applications [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Corrosion Resistance of Innovative Composite Coatings Based on Nanoparticles)

Research

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18 pages, 2602 KB  
Article
Electrochemical Corrosion Performance of TiN, TiCN and TiBN Multilayer Coatings on Hardmetal Substrates
by Mateja Šnajdar, Marin Kurtela, Danko Ćorić and Matija Sakoman
Coatings 2026, 16(3), 353; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings16030353 - 11 Mar 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 439
Abstract
Three types of gradient plasma-assisted chemical vapour deposition (PACVD) coatings were produced on WC-Co hardmetal substrates: a TiN coating, a gradient TiCN coating with alternating TiN/TiCN layers and a multilayer TiBN system of TiN/TiB2 layers. Their corrosion behaviour in a chloride environment [...] Read more.
Three types of gradient plasma-assisted chemical vapour deposition (PACVD) coatings were produced on WC-Co hardmetal substrates: a TiN coating, a gradient TiCN coating with alternating TiN/TiCN layers and a multilayer TiBN system of TiN/TiB2 layers. Their corrosion behaviour in a chloride environment was compared using direct current and alternating current electrochemical techniques. Potentiodynamic polarization, linear polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were carried out in 3.5 wt.% NaCl at temperature 20 ± 2 °C in a three-electrode cell with a saturated calomel electrode (SCE) reference. After 1000 s open circuit stabilization, TiN coating showed superior corrosion resistance with Ecorr = 15 mV vs. SCE, versus TiCN (Ecorr = −281 mV) and TiBN (Ecorr = −304 mV). Linear polarization resistance/Tafel analysis showed significantly higher polarization resistance of TiN (Rp = 1559 kΩ∙cm2) than TiCN (195.4 kΩ∙cm2) and TiBN (243.6 kΩ∙cm2), with the lowest corrosion current density, jcorr = 10.97 nA∙cm−2 and corrosion rate vcorr = 117.2 × 10−6 mm∙y−1. TiCN showed the highest jcorr (360.8 nA∙cm−2) and vcorr (3.32 × 10−3 mm∙y−1). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy fitting with a R(QR) circuit confirmed this, with the highest charge transfer resistance at the substrate–electrolyte interface (Rct) for TiN (8.198 × 104 Ω∙cm2), lower for TiBN (7.929 × 104 Ω∙cm2) and lowest for TiCN (1.435 × 104 Ω∙cm2), indicating TiN as the best barrier and TiCN as the most permeable. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Corrosion Resistance of Innovative Composite Coatings Based on Nanoparticles)
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20 pages, 3625 KB  
Article
Improvement in the Corrosion and Wear Resistance of ZrO2-Ag Coatings on 316LVM Stainless Steel Under Tribocorrosive Conditions
by Willian Aperador and Giovany Orozco-Hernández
Coatings 2025, 15(8), 862; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15080862 - 22 Jul 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1052
Abstract
This study investigates the development of silver (Ag)-doped zirconia (ZrO2) coatings deposited on 316LVM stainless steel via the unbalanced magnetron sputtering technique. The oxygen content in the Ar/O2 gas mixture was systematically varied (12.5%, 25%, 37.5%, and 50%) to assess [...] Read more.
This study investigates the development of silver (Ag)-doped zirconia (ZrO2) coatings deposited on 316LVM stainless steel via the unbalanced magnetron sputtering technique. The oxygen content in the Ar/O2 gas mixture was systematically varied (12.5%, 25%, 37.5%, and 50%) to assess its influence on the resulting coating properties. In response to the growing demand for biomedical implants with improved durability and biocompatibility, the objective was to develop coatings that enhance both wear and corrosion resistance in physiological environments. The effects of silver incorporation and oxygen concentration on the structural, tribological, and electrochemical behavior of the coatings were systematically analyzed. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was employed to identify crystalline phases, while atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to characterize surface topography prior to wear testing. Wear resistance was evaluated using a ball-on-plane tribometer under simulated prosthetic motion, applying a 5 N load with a bone pin as the counter body. Corrosion resistance was assessed through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in a physiological solution. Additionally, tribocorrosive performance was investigated by coupling tribological and electrochemical tests in Ringer’s lactate solution, simulating dynamic in vivo contact conditions. The results demonstrate that Ag doping, combined with increased oxygen content in the sputtering atmosphere, significantly improves both wear and corrosion resistance. Notably, the ZrO2-Ag coating deposited with 50% O2 exhibited the lowest wear volume (0.086 mm3) and a minimum coefficient of friction (0.0043) under a 5 N load. This same coating also displayed superior electrochemical performance, with the highest charge transfer resistance (38.83 kΩ·cm2) and the lowest corrosion current density (3.32 × 10−8 A/cm2). These findings confirm the high structural integrity and outstanding tribocorrosive behavior of the coating, highlighting its potential for application in biomedical implant technology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Corrosion Resistance of Innovative Composite Coatings Based on Nanoparticles)
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12 pages, 19804 KB  
Article
Tuning Nanocrystalline Heterostructures for Enhanced Corrosion Resistance: A Study on Electrodeposited Ni Coatings
by Wenyi Huo, Zeling Zhang, Xuhong Huang, Yueheng Wang, Shiqi Wang, Xiaoheng Lu, Shuangxiao Li, Senlei Zhu, Feng Fang and Jianqing Jiang
Coatings 2025, 15(5), 534; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15050534 - 30 Apr 2025
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1751
Abstract
Tailoring the microstructural heterogeneity of metallic coatings is a promising strategy for enhancing their corrosion resistance; however, its systematic optimization remains underexplored. Here in, we present a one-step, scalable electrodeposition strategy to fabricate Ni coatings with tunable nanocrystalline heterostructures on Cu substrates by [...] Read more.
Tailoring the microstructural heterogeneity of metallic coatings is a promising strategy for enhancing their corrosion resistance; however, its systematic optimization remains underexplored. Here in, we present a one-step, scalable electrodeposition strategy to fabricate Ni coatings with tunable nanocrystalline heterostructures on Cu substrates by varying the current density from 1 mA/cm2 to 50 mA/cm2. The coating with a current density of 10 mA/cm2, featuring a heterogeneous nanograin structure of coexisting small and large grains, exhibited optimal corrosion resistance in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution, with a low self-corrosion current density of 4.48 µA/cm2. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations revealed that the heterostructure dispersed Cl− adsorption sites and promoted passivation. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) revealed that as the current density increased from 10 mA/cm2 to 50 mA/cm2, the corrosion product transitioned from a crystalline NiOOH structure to an amorphous structure, which correlated with a reduced corrosion resistance. The heterogeneous microstructure enhances durability, offering a cost-effective and alloy-free alternative for offshore applications. These findings provide a theoretical and experimental basis for designing advanced corrosion-resistant coatings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Corrosion Resistance of Innovative Composite Coatings Based on Nanoparticles)
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14 pages, 8632 KB  
Article
The Damage Evolution of a Cr2O3-TiO2 Coating Subjected to Cyclic Impact and Corrosive Environments and the Influence of a Nickel Intermediate Layer
by Huaxing Yang, Yang Zhao, Xudong Qin, Yixin Jin, Xinyang Zhao, Kailin Tian, Xiaoming Wang and Zhao Zhang
Coatings 2025, 15(1), 98; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15010098 - 16 Jan 2025
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1937
Abstract
Cyclic impacts in corrosive environments significantly affect the service life of ceramic coatings, greatly increasing their susceptibility to cracking and delamination. This study investigated the damage evolution behavior of Cr2O3-TiO2 (CT) coatings under cyclic stress in a corrosive [...] Read more.
Cyclic impacts in corrosive environments significantly affect the service life of ceramic coatings, greatly increasing their susceptibility to cracking and delamination. This study investigated the damage evolution behavior of Cr2O3-TiO2 (CT) coatings under cyclic stress in a corrosive medium, and analyzed the effects of the nickel layer on coating stress, corrosion current, and crack propagation. The variations in corrosion potential and current were analyzed, and the formation patterns of interfacial corrosion cracks were observed. Pre-cracks were introduced on the ceramic coating surface using a Micro-Nano mechanical testing system, and cyclic impacts were applied to the samples in 5% diluted hydrochloric acid using SiC balls to induce damage evolution. The results indicate that the presence of the nickel interlayer reduced the corrosion current density from 9.197 × 10−6 A/cm2 to 8.088 × 10−6 A/cm2 and significantly decreased the stress between the coating and the substrate. The surface cracks gradually extended toward the interface under the coupling effect of corrosion and SiC ball impact. When cracks reached the interface, they provided channels for corrosive media, leading to stress corrosion cracking at the interface. The Ni intermediate layer suppressed the formation of interface cracks and greatly enhanced the impact damage resistance of the CT coating–substrate system in corrosive media. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Corrosion Resistance of Innovative Composite Coatings Based on Nanoparticles)
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30 pages, 10906 KB  
Article
Individual and Joint Effect of Oleic Acid Imidazoline and CeCl3 on Carbon Steel Corrosion in CO2-Saturated Brine Solution
by Tihomir Borko, Gordana Bilić, Katarina Žbulj and Helena Otmačić Ćurković
Coatings 2025, 15(1), 93; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15010093 - 15 Jan 2025
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2757
Abstract
In production and transportation systems of the oil industry, brine solutions contain high concentrations of chloride and dissolved CO2, which is a very corrosive medium to which carbon steel is exposed. Therefore, finding new effective and environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitors is [...] Read more.
In production and transportation systems of the oil industry, brine solutions contain high concentrations of chloride and dissolved CO2, which is a very corrosive medium to which carbon steel is exposed. Therefore, finding new effective and environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitors is of great importance. The effect of CeCl3 (in concentrations from 5 mg dm−3 to 20 mg dm−3) and oleic acid imidazoline (IOA) (in concentrations from 5 mg dm−3 to 20 mg dm−3) separately and their mixtures (in concentrations from 5 mg dm−3 to 15 mg dm−3 of CeCl3 and from 5 mg dm−3 to 20 mg dm−3 of IOA) as corrosion inhibitors of AISI 1018 carbon steel corrosion in simulated brine solution saturated with CO2 at 60 °C were examined by means of weight-loss testing, electrochemical measurements (polarization resistance, linear polarization with Tafel extrapolation, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) and surface analyses (scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analyses, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction). All test methods showed a higher efficiency of compounds′ mixtures (from 62.77% to 97.94%) and a higher degree of corrosion protection compared to the action of individual compounds (efficiency from 3.43% to 94.61% for IOA and from 57.58% to 96.27% for CeCl3). Imidazoline, a common corrosion inhibitor in CO2-saturated systems, most likely forms a surface film with voids via its adsorption on steel surface, while cerium carbonate tends to fill these voids by creating a more compact film. In this way, a denser and thicker surface film is formed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Corrosion Resistance of Innovative Composite Coatings Based on Nanoparticles)
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12 pages, 2861 KB  
Article
Morphological and Corrosion Characterization of Electroless Ni-P Coatings Deposited on Ductile Iron
by Nicolás Ortiz, Jesús Rafael González-Parra, Jairo Olaya, Dayi Agredo, Raul Valdez, Helgi Waage, Ana María Bolarín, Félix Sánchez and Arturo Barba-Pingarrón
Coatings 2024, 14(10), 1317; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14101317 - 15 Oct 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2736
Abstract
Ductile iron is distinguished by its balance of mechanical properties and other advantageous characteristics, including its capacity to absorb energy. This makes it suitable for applications requiring high strength. However, its performance is impaired by its low corrosion resistance. In this study, a [...] Read more.
Ductile iron is distinguished by its balance of mechanical properties and other advantageous characteristics, including its capacity to absorb energy. This makes it suitable for applications requiring high strength. However, its performance is impaired by its low corrosion resistance. In this study, a Ni-P coating was applied to the surface of ductile cast iron using electroless nickel plating to increase its corrosion resistance in 0.1 M NaCl. The characterization of the substrate and the coated materials was conducted using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and electrochemical noise. The results show that the coating deposited on a ductile iron is amorphous, compact, homogeneous, and well-adhered. The surface hardness is increased by 53%. Also, a notable increase in corrosion resistance is evidenced by the blocking effect of the coating that delimits the access of the electrolyte to the ductile iron coating. The corrosion mechanism is related to the mixed and localized corrosion phenomena for the different evaluation times. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Corrosion Resistance of Innovative Composite Coatings Based on Nanoparticles)
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13 pages, 4805 KB  
Article
Fabrication and Properties of Superhydrophobic Colored Stainless Steel Surface for Decoration and Anti-Corrosion
by Changfeng Fan, Xue Wang, Wei Wang, Dechao Meng, Xianghua Zhan, Xiaoli Yin and Yancong Liu
Coatings 2024, 14(9), 1117; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14091117 - 2 Sep 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2666
Abstract
A colored superhydrophobic surface on a stainless steel substrate was achieved by means of high temperature oxidation combined with subsequent spraying modification by superhydrophobic nano-silica film. Comprehensive characterizations of the surface were performed in terms of color, morphology, composition, wettability, and corrosion resistance [...] Read more.
A colored superhydrophobic surface on a stainless steel substrate was achieved by means of high temperature oxidation combined with subsequent spraying modification by superhydrophobic nano-silica film. Comprehensive characterizations of the surface were performed in terms of color, morphology, composition, wettability, and corrosion resistance by optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), contact angle, potentiodynamic polarization, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurement. At 400 °C, the surface was pale yellow, gradually turning yellow and then red as the temperature increased. At 700 °C and 800 °C, the surface colors were blue and dark brown, respectively. The samples with oxide films demonstrated lower contact angles, specifically 80.5° ± 2.5 at 400 °C, 79.1° ± 2.8 at 500 °C, and 75.6° ± 3.4 at 600 °C. The polarization resistance measured on the oxidized film formed at 600 °C exceeded 7.93 × 104 Ω·cm2. After spraying the treatment, these colorful surfaces exhibited superhydrophobicity, they were self-cleaning, and they satisfied anti-corrosion properties. The treatment performs as an excellent barrier and exhibits a high corrosion resistance of 4.68 × 106 Ω·cm2. The successful preparation of superhydrophobic colored surfaces offers the possibility of providing stainless steel with both decoration value and self-cleaning function simultaneously by our proposed chromium-free fabrication process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Corrosion Resistance of Innovative Composite Coatings Based on Nanoparticles)
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Review

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19 pages, 1692 KB  
Review
Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy for Investigating Nanocomposite Epoxy Coating Degradation and Corrosion Mechanisms
by Marina Samardžija, Marin Kurtela, Ivan Stojanović and Vesna Alar
Coatings 2026, 16(2), 165; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings16020165 - 29 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 585
Abstract
Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy represents one of the most advanced high-resolution techniques that enables detailed monitoring of electrochemical processes, with a particular focus on corrosion phenomena. Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy has become an indispensable tool in studying the behavior and degradation of protective coatings exposed [...] Read more.
Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy represents one of the most advanced high-resolution techniques that enables detailed monitoring of electrochemical processes, with a particular focus on corrosion phenomena. Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy has become an indispensable tool in studying the behavior and degradation of protective coatings exposed to aggressive environmental conditions. This technique allows researchers to precisely track local electrochemical reactions on material surfaces, providing valuable information about the stability and effectiveness of coatings. Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy enables the detection of localized current variations in the pA–nA range, allowing the identification of microdefects with nanometric width. In this paper, the basic principles of Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy operation are first presented, including a description of the device. The method of scanning the electrode is discussed through the modes and their interpretation of the obtained data for systems with protective anticorrosive coatings. Furthermore, Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy techniques enable a detailed study of the mechanisms and kinetics of new, modified coatings, which is especially significant in the case of nanoparticle-enriched coatings. Such modifications often enhance the protective properties of materials, and Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy allows monitoring of their performance under real conditions, providing insight into local electrochemical changes that are otherwise difficult to detect with standard methods. Special attention is given to the challenges researchers may encounter during experiments, such as calibration prior to measurement, interpretation of input parameters, and signal analysis. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the capabilities and limitations of Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy (SECM), emphasizing its importance as a tool for the development and optimization of new, high-performance coatings for industrial applications and scientific research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Corrosion Resistance of Innovative Composite Coatings Based on Nanoparticles)
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