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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Shape Memory Alloy Films and High-Entropy Alloy Films
edited by
submission deadline 30 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 212 | Submission Open
Keywords: coatings/films; thin-film technologies; structure; properties and applications
(This special issue belongs to the Section Thin Films)
Recent Progress in Metal Additive Manufacturing and Post-Processing Techniques submission deadline 30 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 202 | Submission Open
Keywords: metal additive manufacturing; surface; coatings; corrosion; tribology
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Deposition, Characterization and Application of Anti-corrosion and Lubricating Coatings submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 16 articles | Viewed by 46188 | Submission Open
Keywords: protective corrosion coatings; metal matrix composites; lubricating coatings; interface
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
New Functional Coatings and Thin Films for Sensor and Green Energy Technologies
edited by , Rositsa Gergova and
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 20 articles | Viewed by 29685 | Submission Open
Keywords: advanced materials; functional coatings; thin films; design; sensing; solar energy conversion and storage
(This special issue belongs to the Section Thin Films)
Characterization and Manufacturing of Nano-Composites and Nano-Composite Coatings
edited by
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 8 articles | Viewed by 21243 | Submission Open
Keywords: synthesis of nanocomposite materials; coating materials testing procedures; optimization of nanocomposite coating production processes; machinability of coated surfaces; modeling of nanocomposite coating materials
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Engineering for Energy Harvesting, Conversion, and Storage)
Advances in Wear-Resistant Coatings
edited by Hui Liang and Zhiqiang Cao
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 5 articles | Viewed by 10993 | Submission Open
Keywords: wear-resistant coatings; polymers; ceramics; alloys; and composite coatings; nanostructured coating modeling and simulation; coating processes; tribological mechanism of coatings
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Strong, Ductile and Corrosion-Resistant High-Entropy Alloys
edited by and
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 2 articles | Viewed by 5717 | Submission Open
Keywords: high-entropy alloys; mechanical properties; corrosion resistance; passive films; microstructures
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Innovations in Functional Coatings for Wood Processing
edited by
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 6 articles | Viewed by 5400 | Submission Open
Keywords: environmentally friendly coating; functional coating; decorative coating; modified wood; engineered wood; wood product; wood processing
(This special issue belongs to the Section Functional Polymer Coatings and Films)
Multi-Principal Element Alloy Design and Surface Modification Technology
edited by Yinghao Zhou, and
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 5 articles | Viewed by 3431 | Submission Open
Keywords: multi-principal elements alloys; high-entropy alloys; surface modifications; mechanical properties; corrosion and wear resistance
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Thermal Barrier Coatings: Materials, Processes, Properties and Applications
edited by Dianying Chen
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 5 articles | Viewed by 3313 | Submission Open
Keywords: thermal barrier coatings; coating process; CMAS resistance; oxidation; failure analysis; gas turbine engines
(This special issue belongs to the Section Ceramic Coatings and Engineering Technology)
Surface Topography Measurement Analysis of Additively Manufactured Modern Materials and Coatings submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 3 articles | Viewed by 2993 | Submission Open
Keywords: surface metrology; roughness measurement; surface topography characterization; functional materials; measurement noise; measurement uncertainty; manufacturing metrology; machined surfaces; additive manufacturing
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Advanced Ceramic Materials and Coatings: Synthesis, Properties and Applications
edited by Xiaolong Lu, Yuyi Zhu, Tony Thomas and Yue Yang
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 5 articles | Viewed by 2590 | Submission Open
Keywords: advanced ceramic materials; ceramic coatings; functional ceramics; ceramic processing and synthesis; material characterization
(This special issue belongs to the Section Ceramic Coatings and Engineering Technology)
Microstructure and Corrosion Behavior of High-Entropy Coatings
edited by
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2443 | Submission Open
Keywords: high-entropy coatings; corrosion resistance; wear resistance; tribological properties; hardness; toughness; physical vapor deposition (PVD); nanostructure; multilayer structure
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Functionalization and Modification of Polymers, Polymeric Recyclates and Films
edited by and Rajnikant Patel
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2406 | Submission Open
Keywords: polymer processing and modification; film modification and applications; thin films; chemical engineering; nanocomposites; adhesion; surface modification; surface energy sfe; developed interfacial area ratio sdr; packaging systems; biodegradadation; permeability for water vapour and gases; composites and biocompostes; recycling issues
(This special issue belongs to the Section Functional Polymer Coatings and Films)
Innovations, Applications and Advances of High-Entropy Alloy Coatings
edited by Ádám Vida, and
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 3 articles | Viewed by 1820 | Submission Open
Keywords: high-entropy alloys; additive manufacturing; cladding; surface layers; deposition; sputtering
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plasma Coatings, Surfaces & Interfaces)
High-Entropy Alloy Films and Coatings submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1510 | Submission Open
Keywords: high-entropy alloys; films; coatings; microstructure; mechanical properties.
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Modification and Optimization of Cable Insulation Surface Materials
edited by , Gu Li and Lin Yang
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1056 | Submission Open
Keywords: coating materials for insulation; preparation process of nanocomposites; coatings for insulation; dielectric properties of nanocomposites; interface structure of nanocomposites; dielectric interface effect; characterization techniques for coating materials for insulation; electriferous flame plating varnish; dielectric losses in nano-cable insulation materials
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Engineering for Energy Harvesting, Conversion, and Storage)
Innovative Flame-Retardant Coatings for High-Performance Materials
edited by and Shuqiang Peng
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 767 | Submission Open
Keywords: intumescent fire-retardant coatings; intrinsically flame-retardant coatings; flame-retardant coatings with multifunctional features; bio-sourced flame-retardant coatings; high-performance flame-retardant coatings
(This special issue belongs to the Section Thin Films)
Advanced Thin Films of High-Entropy Alloys
edited by , and Wenkai Jiang
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 748 | Submission Open
Keywords: advanced thin film; high-entropy alloy; fabrication method of thin films; applications of thin film; micro- and nano-electronic devices; functionalization of thin films; characterization of thin films; functional coatings; gradient thin films; novel thin-film electrode
(This special issue belongs to the Section Thin Films)
Coatings and AI: Preparation, Characterization and Application
edited by and Hongli Bian
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 426 | Submission Open
Keywords: artificial intelligence in coatings; intelligent preparation of coatings; machine learning for material characterization; AI-driven coating applications; coating performance prediction
Exploring the Innovative Roles of Coatings and Materials in Microplastic Pollution and Microbial Interactions in the Anthropocene
edited by , Alice Delacuvellerie, and Ruddy Wattiez
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 339 | Submission Open
Keywords: microplastics; plastisphere; coating– plastisphere interactions; additive retention; additive leaching; coated microplastics as additive carriers; microplastic coating dynamics; coatings
(This special issue belongs to the Section Functional Polymer Coatings and Films)
Protective Coatings for Complex Technical Surfaces
edited by Michél Hauer, Filofteia-Laura Toma, and
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 180 | Submission Open
Keywords: thermal spray; cladding; materials; wear; corrosion; emissions; environmental footprint
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Protective Coatings for Heritage Conservation: Development and Application submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 149 | Submission Open
Keywords: cultural heritage; coatings; material preservation; composites; coating technology; deterioration; degradation
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Synthesis and Applications of Bioactive Coatings
edited by Shenglian Yao
submission deadline 10 Jan 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 8987 | Submission Open
Keywords: novel synthesis techniques for bioactive coatings; characterization and properties of bioactive coatings; medical applications and biocompatibility assessment; bioactive coatings in tissue engineering; environmental and industrial applications
(This special issue belongs to the Section Bioactive Coatings and Biointerfaces)
Advances in Optical Coatings and Thin Films submission deadline 10 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1389 | Submission Open
Keywords: thin films; optical coating; optical thin-film technology; light– matter interaction; photonics
(This special issue belongs to the Section Thin Films)
Self-Cleaning and Anti-Fouling Coatings
edited by Liming Liu and Wei Tong
submission deadline 10 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1309 | Submission Open
Keywords: coatings; self-cleaning; anti-fouling; micro-nanostructures; durability
(This special issue belongs to the Section Bioactive Coatings and Biointerfaces)
Advances in Coating Tribology: Smart, Sustainable and High-Performance Coatings for Next-Generation Applications
edited by
submission deadline 10 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1093 | Submission Open
Keywords: coatings for harsh environments; self-lubricating and adaptive coatings; sustainable and eco-friendly coating; tribology of coatings in additive manufacturing; coatings for medical and biomedical applications; coatings in electric vehicles; high-temperature tribology and protective coatings; artificial intelligence and computational modeling in coating tribology.
(This special issue belongs to the Section Tribology)
Novel Coatings for Enhanced Water Desalination and Treatments submission deadline 10 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 808 | Submission Open
Keywords: water desalination coatings; advanced surface modifications; eco-friendly coating; artificial intelligence for coating optimization; regression analysis for coating performance prediction
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Multifunctional Thin Films from Hybrid Biopolymers and Nanomaterials: Characterization and Advanced Biomedical and Environmental Application submission deadline 10 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 143 | Submission Open
Keywords: thin films; biopolymers; nanomaterials; biological applications; environmental remediation
(This special issue belongs to the Section Thin Films)
Advanced Surface Engineering of Biocompatible Coatings: Innovation and Application
edited by Chenchen Wang and Jincan Yan
submission deadline 15 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1382 | Submission Open
Keywords: wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant coatings; biomimetic coatings; surface modification of bone implants; fretting wear at bone interfaces; biological lubricating materials
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Coatings for Biomedicine and Bioengineering)
Recent Advancement in Biological Microelectromechanical Systems (BioMEMS) and Biomimetic Coatings submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | 10 articles | Viewed by 35134 | Submission Open
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Coatings for Biomedicine and Bioengineering)
Mechanical Properties and Tribological Behavior of Alloy/Coatings, 2nd Edition
edited by
submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | 9 articles | Viewed by 14150 | Submission Open
Keywords: bioinspired hierarchical structures; graded architecture; multilayers; tribology; friction and wear
(This special issue belongs to the Section Tribology)
Coating Technologies Involving Surface Adsorption and Diffusion
edited by Yang Yang and Chengsong Zhang
submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 10037 | Submission Open
Keywords: thermal chemical treatment; film deposition; duplex treatment; adsorption; diffusion; microstructure; surface properties; first-principles calculations
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Alloy/Metal/Steel Surface: Fabrication, Structure, Friction and Service Life
edited by Yujie Fan and Zhiqiang Liu
submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 7644 | Submission Open
Keywords: laser processing; surface etching; micro-texture; friction reduction; wear resistance
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Innovative Surface Treatment Technologies for Enhanced Coating Performance
edited by and
submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 2873 | Submission Open
Keywords: surface treatments; coating performance; wear resistance; corrosion resistance; microstructure modification
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Surface Treatment and Coating of Additively Manufactured Components
edited by and Fei Cheng
submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 848 | Submission Open
Keywords: optimization of additive manufacturing process parameters for surface quality; binder jetting; directed energy deposition; material extrusion; and powder bed fusion; abrasive flow machining; chemical polishing/milling; laser polishing; shot/shock peening; and vibratory finishing; coatings for aerospace; aesthetic; and biomedical purposes; coating and material characterization for adhesion; abrasion; friction; lubrication; mechanical performance; and wear; the modelling and simulation of post-manufacturing processes
(This special issue belongs to the Section Laser Coatings)
Advanced Polishing and Finishing via Laser and Multi-Energy Field Processing
edited by , Yan Wang and Jingnan Zhao
submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 170 | Submission Open
Keywords: laser surface modification; multi-energy field composite processing; surface finishing and polishing; functional surface structures; wear and corrosion resistance
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Advances in the Mechanical Properties of Polymer Films and Coatings
edited by
submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 162 | Submission Open
Keywords: mechanical behavior; polymer films and coatings; advanced characterization; durability; sustainable design
(This special issue belongs to the Section Functional Polymer Coatings and Films)
Preparation and Applications of Innovative Optoelectronic Films and Materials
edited by Hanlu Zhang, Junlu Sun and Xuexia Chen
submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 161 | Submission Open
Keywords: optoelectronic films; 2D materials; optoelectronic devices; optical coatings
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Engineering for Energy Harvesting, Conversion, and Storage)
Treatments and Modifications for Wood Surface Protection and Wood Bonding
edited by
submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 115 | Submission Open
Keywords: wood protection; wood modification; wood surface treatment; coating; wood adhesives
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces: Biomedical and Healthcare Applications submission deadline 25 Jan 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 16317 | Submission Open
Keywords: nanostructured materials and interfaces; multifunctional surfaces; design; synthesis; and processing technologies; physical; chemical; and biological evaluations; surface characterization; biomedical and healthcare applications
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Coatings for Biomedicine and Bioengineering)
Cold Spray for Additive Manufacturing and Remanufacturing Applications
edited by and Ruitao Li
submission deadline 25 Jan 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2941 | Submission Open
Keywords: cold spray additive manufacturing; cold spray remanufacturing; cold spray repair and restoration; cold spray fundamentals; cold spray of novel and functional materials; artificial intelligence in cold spray
(This special issue belongs to the Section Functional Polymer Coatings and Films)
Surface Integrity, Surface Properties, and Fatigue Performance of Coated Metallic Materials
edited by Weibing Dai
submission deadline 25 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 894 | Submission Open
Keywords: surface integrity; coating; lightweight materials; surface properties; fatigue performance
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Advanced Coatings and Materials for Conservation and Durability of Modern Buildings
edited by
submission deadline 28 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 2141 | Submission Open
Keywords: building durability; building pathology; conservation; advanced coatings; durability testing; case studies
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Corrosion and Protection of Metal Material Surface
edited by Ruiming Su
submission deadline 28 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 74 | Submission Open
Keywords: corrosion mechanisms; protective coatings; surface modification; corrosion resistance
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Fatigue and Wear Mechanisms of Different Surface Coatings for Industrial Application submission deadline 29 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1216 | Submission Open
Keywords: wear-resistant coatings; modified metallic surfaces; mechanical failure; friction; wear; damage mechanisms
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Innovative Coatings for Enhancing the Corrosion Resistance and Durability of Reinforced Concrete Structures submission deadline 30 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1126 | Submission Open
Keywords: coatings; concrete cover; reinforced concrete structures; durability; corrosion; protection
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Advances in Concrete and Construction Coatings: Materials, Mechanical Properties, Applications
edited by Yongjun Zhou, and
submission deadline 30 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 693 | Submission Open
Keywords: concrete design; ultra-high-performance concrete; functional concrete; fiber-reinforced concrete; green concrete; recycled materials; life-cycle sustainability; impact resistance properties; durability; concrete surface treatment
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Advances and Applications of Sustainable Food Packaging Coating submission deadline 30 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 467 | Submission Open
Keywords: coatings; sustainable; films; food packaging; advances and applications; active and intelligent food packaging
(This special issue belongs to the Section Coatings for Food Technology and System)
Microstructure, Friction and Wear, Hardness Properties and Numerical Simulation of Coatings submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 29 articles | Viewed by 87864 | Submission Open
Keywords: surface coating technology; microstructure; coatings material design; simulation analysis; numerical simulation
(This special issue belongs to the Section Tribology)
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