Special Issues

Coatings publishes Special Issues to create collections of papers on specific topics, with the aim of building a community of authors and readers to discuss the latest research and develop new ideas and research directions. Special Issues are led by Guest Editors, who are experts on the topic and all Special Issue submissions follow MDPI's standard editorial process. The journal’s Editor-in-Chief and/or designated Editorial Board Member will oversee Guest Editor appointments and Special Issue proposals, checking their content for relevance and ensuring the suitability of the material for the journal. The papers published in a Special Issue will be collected and displayed on a dedicated page of the journal’s website. Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies and Guest Editor responsibilities can be found here. For any inquiries related to a Special Issue, please contact the Editorial Office.

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Recent Progress in High-Entropy Alloy Coatings and Films
edited by Enikő Réka Fábián and Ádám Vida
submission deadline 25 Jul 2026 | Viewed by 26 | Submission Open
Keywords: cantor alloys; laser melting deposition; hardness; refractory proprieties
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Advanced Coatings and Materials for Biomedical Applications submission deadline 26 Jul 2026 | Viewed by 132 | Submission Open
Keywords: biocompatible coatings; surface functionalization; advanced biomaterials; biomimetic coatings; hydroxyapatite based coatings
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Coatings for Biomedicine and Bioengineering)
Advances in Thermal Deposition Methods for Functional Coatings: Properties and Applications
edited by
submission deadline 29 Jul 2026 | Viewed by 7 | Submission Open
Keywords: thermal deposition; plasma jet thermal deposition; metallization; sputtering; thermal deposition technologies; functional coatings
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Anti-Corrosion Materials and Coatings
edited by , Meng Cheng and Lu Shen
submission deadline 30 Jul 2026 | Viewed by 64 | Submission Open
Keywords: anti-corrosion coatings; anti-fouling coatings; biodegradable coatings; self-healing coatings; reliability coatings; smart coatings
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Corrosion-Resistant Metallic Materials: Surface Engineering & Applications
edited by and
submission deadline 30 Jul 2026 | Viewed by 51 | Submission Open
Keywords: corrosion; metal and alloys; surface engineering; coatings; multi-field coupling corrosion
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
The Effect of Surface Heat Treatment on Mechanical and Friction-Wear Properties of Materials
edited by and Kąc Sławomir
submission deadline 30 Jul 2026 | Viewed by 26 | Submission Open
Keywords: surface heat treatment; hardening; cladding; tempering; remelting; microstructure; friction-wear properties; mechanical properties
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Advances in Corrosion Behaviors and Protection of Coatings
edited by
submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 11163 | Submission Open
Keywords: corrosion; corrosion protection; alloying; corrosion resistance; metals
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Surface Treatments and Coatings for Asphalt and Concrete
edited by and Jun Wang
submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | 9 articles | Viewed by 8627 | Submission Open
Keywords: protective corrosion coatings; extreme environments; performance modeling; recycled concrete; asphalt; fiber-reinforced polymer
(This special issue belongs to the Section Functional Polymer Coatings and Films)
Recent Research in Asphalt and Pavement Materials
edited by Ana María Rodríguez-Alloza
submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 3558 | Submission Open
Keywords: asphalt; bitumen; pavement; road materials; sustainable asphalt
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plasma Coatings, Surfaces & Interfaces)
Advanced Functional Cement-Based Materials for Smart Applications
edited by , Kunyang Yu and Zilong Wang
submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1938 | Submission Open
Keywords: advanced functional cement-based materials; phase-change material; fiber coating; infrastructure construction
Surface Protection of Pavements: New Perspectives and Applications
edited by , Wei Zhang and Yi Zhang
submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1621 | Submission Open
Keywords: anti-slip properties; disease detection; conservation design; bitumen coatings; micro-surfacing; thin-layer covering; regeneration
(This special issue belongs to the Section Environmental Aspects in Colloid and Interface Science)
Technologies and Processes That Involve Surface Interaction or Successive Coating Processes for Additive Manufacturing submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 871 | Submission Open
Keywords: additive manufacturing; advanced materials; smart materials; functional gradient materials; lattice structures
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
New Insights into Everyday Heritage: Surface Analysis and Conservation
edited by and
submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | Viewed by 135 | Submission Open
Keywords: everyday heritage; heritage science; conservation; architectural surface; intangible cultural heritage surface
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Progress and Prospects in Dental Materials and Endodontic Sciences submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | Viewed by 128 | Submission Open
Keywords: endodontic materials; dental restorative materials; dental biomaterials; mechanical properties; chemical properties; biocompatibility; antibacterial properties; nanomaterials in dentistry; dental material innovation; regenerative endodontics; dentin– material interface; clinical performance; material degradation; 3D printing in dental materials; tissue– material; interactions; surface modification
(This special issue belongs to the Section Bioactive Coatings and Biointerfaces)
Recent Advances in Polymer Composite Coatings and Films
edited by , and Licheng Hua
submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | Viewed by 101 | Submission Open
Keywords: coatings; polymer composites; functional coatings; nanocomposites; thin films; smart materials
(This special issue belongs to the Section Functional Polymer Coatings and Films)
Perovskite-Oxide-Based Thin Films for Battery Applications submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | Viewed by 94 | Submission Open
Keywords: perovskite thin films; perovskite oxides; solid electrolyte interphases; metal-oxide thin film electrode; perovskite thin films for battery; perovskite oxide chemical and electrochemical stability; lead-free perovskite oxide
(This special issue belongs to the Section Thin Films)
Edible Films and Coatings Based on Biopolymers
edited by and Cínthia Caetano Bonatto
submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | Viewed by 76 | Submission Open
Keywords: biopolymer films; edible coatings; active packaging; nanocomposites; sustainable packaging
Advances in Development of Composites, Metals, and Alloys for Additive Manufacturing Technologies
edited by and Gianluca Rubino
submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | Viewed by 67 | Submission Open
Keywords: additive manufacturing; composite materials; metal alloys; coatings; thermo-mechanical characterization; surface finishing; surface treatments; tribology; microstructure; corrosion resistance
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Functional Materials and Coatings for High-Performance Supercapacitors
edited by and
submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | Viewed by 52 | Submission Open
Keywords: micro-supercapacitor coatings; graded/FGM coatings; supercapacitors; thin-film electrodes; core– shell architectures; yolk– shell architectures; MXenes; porous carbons (graphene; CNTs; expanded graphite); transition-metal oxides/nitrides; layered double hydroxides (LDH); conducting polymers; binder-free electrodes; gel/solid-state electrolytes; flexible and micro-supercapacitors; collector– coatings
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Engineering for Energy Harvesting, Conversion, and Storage)
Innovative Inkjet Printing Systems for Functional, Multisensory and Inclusive Design submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | Viewed by 48 | Submission Open
Keywords: inkjet printing; functional materials; advanced printing technologies; multisensory applications; tactile printing; accessible design; cultural heritage preservation; novel ink formulations; surface functionalization; sustainable printing solutions
(This special issue belongs to the Section Functional Polymer Coatings and Films)
Advancement in Heat Treatment and Surface Modification for Metals, 2nd Edition
edited by and Xulong An
submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | Viewed by 42 | Submission Open
Keywords: metals; chemical heat treatment; heat treatment; surface modification; properties; microstructure; physical vapor deposition (PVD); thermal spraying; induction quenching; laser surface hardening; plasma treatment
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Mechanical and Corrosion Behavious of Aluminium Alloys and Magnetic Materials for Electric Mobility Applications submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | Viewed by 1 | Submission Open
Keywords: coatings in magnetic materials; protective coatings; mechanical properties; magnetic properties; corrosion in EV environments
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Advanced Coated Nanoparticles in Environmental Systems: Stability, Interactions, and Implications
edited by and José Maria Monserrat
submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | Submission Open
Keywords: stabilizing agents; surface coatings; aquatic organisms; freshwater; marine; synthesis methods; particle characterization; intrinsic properties; nanotoxicology; environmental fate
(This special issue belongs to the Section Environmental Aspects in Colloid and Interface Science)
Advanced Oxidation and Corrosion Resistant Coatings
edited by
submission deadline 1 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 51 | Submission Open
Keywords: coating; oxidation; corrosion; microstructural evolution; degradation
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Function-Oriented Modified Asphalt and Its Mixtures: Enhancing Pavement Performance and Sustainable Applications
edited by Di Yun and
submission deadline 1 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 32 | Submission Open
Keywords: coatings; modified asphalt; pavement performance; functional asphalt mixtures; sustainable applications
(This special issue belongs to the Section Environmental Aspects in Colloid and Interface Science)
Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD): Technology and Applications
edited by
submission deadline 10 Aug 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2160 | Submission Open
Keywords: hard and wear-resistant coatings; CVD nanocomposite coatings; superhard materials; high-temperature and oxidation resistance; microstructural characterization; wear testing and layer optimization; pre- and post-coating treatments
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Emerging Trends in Functional Coatings for Biomedical Applications
edited by and Emilia Skołek
submission deadline 10 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 38 | Submission Open
Keywords: surface engineering; coating; layer; corrosion resistance; bioactivity; biocompatibility; wear resistance; biodegradable coatings; resorbable coatings; antimicrobial coating
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Coatings for Biomedicine and Bioengineering)
Thermoelectric Coatings: Thermal Management and Heat Transfer
edited by Dongxu Zhang
submission deadline 10 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 17 | Submission Open
Keywords: thermoelectric coatings; thermal management; heat transfer; extreme environments; heat damage evolution of coatings
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Engineering for Energy Harvesting, Conversion, and Storage)
Advanced Coating Technology by Physical Vapor Deposition and Applications, 2nd Edition
edited by
submission deadline 15 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 106 | Submission Open
Keywords: physical vapor deposition; coating technology; thin film; multilayer coatings; optical interference coatings; sputtering; evaporation
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Edible Films and Coatings in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: From Materials to Applications submission deadline 15 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 60 | Submission Open
Keywords: coatings; edible; biopolymers; food preservation; artificial intelligence; computer vision; microfluidics; shelf-life extension; smart packaging
(This special issue belongs to the Section Bioactive Coatings and Biointerfaces)
Advances in Radiation-Resistant or Laser-Resistant Coatings
edited by , and Hong-Mau Lin
submission deadline 15 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 33 | Submission Open
Keywords: radiation; laser; coating; interference
(This special issue belongs to the Section Laser Coatings)
Advanced Functional Coatings for Electromagnetic Absorption and Surface Protection
edited by Yongqian Shen
submission deadline 15 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 31 | Submission Open
Keywords: electromagnetic absorbing materials; transparent hydrophobic coatings; functional coatings; surface protection; multi-functional composites
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Advances in Polymer Composite Coatings and Films
edited by and Xi Zhang
submission deadline 20 Aug 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 394 | Submission Open
Keywords: polymer composite coatings; functional films; interfacial engineering; structure– property relationships; protective coatings
(This special issue belongs to the Section Functional Polymer Coatings and Films)
Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO) Coatings—3rd Edition submission deadline 20 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 86 | Submission Open
Keywords: plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO); micro-arc oxidation (MAO); PEO coatings; mechanical performance; corrosion performance
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plasma Coatings, Surfaces & Interfaces)
Oxidation, Wear, Corrosion Behaviors and Activated Bonding Properties of Coatings Deposited on Metals—2nd Edition submission deadline 20 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 41 | Submission Open
Keywords: wear and corrosion resistance; protective corrosion coatings; activated bonding properties; coatings characterization
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Tribology of Coatings and Surface Layers
edited by and Stephen C. Veldhuis
submission deadline 20 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 40 | Submission Open
Keywords: protective coatings; coating deposition processes; wear and lubrication; optimization of properties; analytics & modeling
(This special issue belongs to the Section Tribology)
Advanced Coatings and Films for Food Packing and Storage, 3rd Edition
edited by and
submission deadline 20 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 29 | Submission Open
Keywords: edible coatings; active ingredients; bio-based materials; active packaging; intelligent/smart packaging; shelf life
(This special issue belongs to the Section Coatings for Food Technology and System)
Surface Engineering of Alloys: Durability and Performance
edited by Pengcheng Guo
submission deadline 20 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 23 | Submission Open
Keywords: extreme environments; reliability coatings; performance modelling; stress corrosion
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Green Asphalt Materials—Surface Engineering and Applications (Second Edition) submission deadline 20 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 18 | Submission Open
Keywords: applications of novel materials in asphalt pavement coatings; polymer-based bonding materials for asphalt surface treatment; polymer- and fiber-modified asphalt for surface treatment; water-based; resin-modified emulsified asphalt for pavement coatings; temperature-reduced production and paving of asphalt mixtures; cracking behavior and self-healing of asphalt mixtures in surface applications; pervious asphalt concrete for pavement surfaces; prevention and control of asphalt fume emissions; materials for catalytic degradation of automotive exhaust; recycling of reclaimed asphalt pavement; biomass-derived asphalt binders for surface treatments
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Recent Progress on Electrochemical Corrosion of Metallic Materials
edited by and
submission deadline 20 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 10 | Submission Open
Keywords: electrochemical corrosion; metallic materials; hydrogen embrittlement; MIC; coatings; SCC; electrochemical testing; in situ/operando analysis; corrosion modeling
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Corrosion Monitoring, Prevention and Prediction of Urban Buried Infrastructures
edited by Chengtao Wang, Shaoyi Xu, Kangkang Tang and Gan Cui
submission deadline 25 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 38 | Submission Open
Keywords: buried infrastructure; oil and gas pipeline; shield tunnel; corrosion monitoring; corrosion prediction
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Sustainable Polymer Coatings: Eco-Friendly Materials and Green Processing Technologies
edited by Yu Tan
submission deadline 25 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 26 | Submission Open
Keywords: polymer coatings; eco-friendly materials; green processing technologies; green chemistry; hydrogel coating; sustainable design; bio-based materials
(This special issue belongs to the Section Functional Polymer Coatings and Films)
Coatings Renovation—the Second Life of Surfaces submission deadline 25 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 25 | Submission Open
Keywords: coatings renovation; laser cleaning; nanocoatings; self healing; surfaces
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Recent Progress in Magnetron Sputtering of Coatings and Thin Films
edited by and
submission deadline 25 Aug 2026 | Submission Open
Keywords: magnetron sputtering; thin films; structure and microstructure; film devices; functional properties
(This special issue belongs to the Section Thin Films)
Alloy/Metal/Steel Surface: Fabrication, Structure, and Corrosion
edited by and Fandi Meng
submission deadline 30 Aug 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 2840 | Submission Open
Keywords: metal/alloy; surface film/coatings; corrosion; electrochemistry; anti-corrosion organic coatings; functional coatings
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Surface Engineering and Characterization of Bioactive Coatings for Biomedical Applications
edited by Juan Pablo Fernández Hernán and
submission deadline 30 Aug 2026 | Submission Open
Keywords: bioactive coatings; surface engineering; multifunctional coatings; nanostructured coatings  
(This special issue belongs to the Section Bioactive Coatings and Biointerfaces)
Solid Surfaces, Defects and Detection, 2nd Edition
edited by
submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 2561 | Submission Open
Keywords: coatings for solid surfaces; vision detection for surface defects; defect classification; artificial intelligence of vision detection; non-destructive testing
Surface Engineering of Solid-State Electrochemical Systems for Energy Conversion and Storage
edited by and Davide Cademartori
submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 359 | Submission Open
Keywords: surface electrochemistry; energy conversion and storage; vibrational energy harvesting; nano- and micro-surface engineering; modeling of electrochemical processes
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Engineering for Energy Harvesting, Conversion, and Storage)
Recent Developments in the Microstructure and Properties of Coatings submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 169 | Submission Open
Keywords: coatings; microstructure of coatings; properties of coatings; corrosion resistance; phosphate layer; coated alloys
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Recent Research on Functional Cement-Matrix Composites and Construction Coatings submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 60 | Submission Open
Keywords: CDW resource utilization; cement-based composites; functional modification; interface performance optimization and functional integration; coating and surface engineering treatment; multi-component collaborative design; green low-carbon concrete
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
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