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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Advances in Wear-Resistant Coatings
edited by Hui Liang and Zhiqiang Cao
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 5 articles | Viewed by 9411 | 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 5259 | 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 | 3 articles | Viewed by 1844 | 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)
Functionalization and Modification of Polymers, Polymeric Recyclates and Films
edited by and Rajnikant Patel
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1769 | 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)
Microstructure and Corrosion Behavior of High-Entropy Coatings
edited by
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1494 | 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)
High-Entropy Alloy Films and Coatings submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1099 | Submission Open
Keywords: high-entropy alloys; films; coatings; microstructure; mechanical properties.
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Surface Topography Measurement Analysis of Additively Manufactured Modern Materials and Coatings submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1064 | 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)
Multi-Principal Element Alloy Design and Surface Modification Technology
edited by Yinghao Zhou, and
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 739 | 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)
Modification and Optimization of Cable Insulation Surface Materials
edited by , Gu Li and Lin Yang
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 550 | 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)
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 | Viewed by 275 | 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)
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 239 | 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)
Coatings and AI: Preparation, Characterization and Application
edited by and Hongli Bian
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 206 | Submission Open
Keywords: artificial intelligence in coatings; intelligent preparation of coatings; machine learning for material characterization; AI-driven coating applications; coating performance prediction
Innovations, Applications and Advances of High-Entropy Alloy Coatings
edited by Ádám Vida, and
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 167 | Submission Open
Keywords: high-entropy alloys; additive manufacturing; cladding; surface layers; deposition; sputtering
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plasma Coatings, Surfaces & Interfaces)
Innovative Flame-Retardant Coatings for High-Performance Materials
edited by and Shuqiang Peng
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 118 | 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)
Protective Coatings for Complex Technical Surfaces
edited by Michél Hauer, Filofteia-Laura Toma, and
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 85 | Submission Open
Keywords: thermal spray; cladding; materials; wear; corrosion; emissions; environmental footprint
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Advanced Thin Films of High-Entropy Alloys
edited by , and Wenkai Jiang
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 81 | 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)
Protective Coatings for Heritage Conservation: Development and Application submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 77 | 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 6254 | 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 812 | 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 806 | Submission Open
Keywords: coatings; self-cleaning; anti-fouling; micro-nanostructures; durability
(This special issue belongs to the Section Bioactive Coatings and Biointerfaces)
Novel Coatings for Enhanced Water Desalination and Treatments submission deadline 10 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 700 | 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)
Advances in Coating Tribology: Smart, Sustainable and High-Performance Coatings for Next-Generation Applications
edited by
submission deadline 10 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 89 | 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)
Multifunctional Thin Films from Hybrid Biopolymers and Nanomaterials: Characterization and Advanced Biomedical and Environmental Application submission deadline 10 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 74 | 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 660 | 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 29910 | 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 | 8 articles | Viewed by 10038 | 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 8371 | 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 | 4 articles | Viewed by 1603 | 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 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1276 | 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 560 | 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)
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 101 | 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)
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 87 | 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 76 | 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)
Treatments and Modifications for Wood Surface Protection and Wood Bonding
edited by
submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 45 | 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 13033 | 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 1944 | 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 600 | 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 1730 | 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 32 | 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 | Viewed by 109 | 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)
Advances in Concrete and Construction Coatings: Materials, Mechanical Properties, Applications
edited by Yongjun Zhou, and
submission deadline 30 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 460 | 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 358 | 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)
Innovative Coatings for Enhancing the Corrosion Resistance and Durability of Reinforced Concrete Structures submission deadline 30 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 319 | Submission Open
Keywords: coatings; concrete cover; reinforced concrete structures; durability; corrosion; protection
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Microstructure, Friction and Wear, Hardness Properties and Numerical Simulation of Coatings submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 29 articles | Viewed by 61830 | Submission Open
Keywords: surface coating technology; microstructure; coatings material design; simulation analysis; numerical simulation
(This special issue belongs to the Section Tribology)
Latest Insights in Metal Fatigue, Failure, and Fracture
edited by
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 5237 | Submission Open
Keywords: fatigue assessment; fatigue failure; fatigue damage evaluation; crack initiation and propagation; life prediction; fracture mechanisms; failure prevention
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Engineered Coatings for a Sustainable Future submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 2788 | Submission Open
Keywords: recyclable; non-toxic; and biodegradable coatings; low VOC (volatile organic compounds) coatings; renewable materials and coatings; energy-efficient and resource-efficient coatings; eco-friendly coatings with a reduced environmental impact; advanced materials and coatings; high-performance coatings; durable coatings; functional coatings; corrosion resistant coatings; thermal barrier coatings; self-cleaning and self-healing coatings; antimicrobial coatings; wear resistance coatings; sustainable by design coatings
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Advanced 2D Materials and Wide-Band-Gap Compound Semiconductors: Epitaxial Growth, Characterization and Applications
edited by and Wei-Lin Wang
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1951 | Submission Open
Keywords: epitaxy; van der waals; TMDs; nitride; CVD
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Engineering for Energy Harvesting, Conversion, and Storage)
Advancements in Surface Engineering, Coatings and Tribology submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1253 | Submission Open
Keywords: coatings; surface engineering; tribology; wear resistance; surface modification
(This special issue belongs to the Section Tribology)
Liquid–Solid Interfaces in Environmental Research
edited by
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 358 | Submission Open
Keywords: liquid– solid interfaces; thin-film formation; surface chemistry; adsorption kinetics; molecular dynamics at surfaces; surface modification; nanostructures; surface energy; interfacial tension; surface characterization
(This special issue belongs to the Section Environmental Aspects in Colloid and Interface Science)
Surface Engineering of Bone Implants submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 254 | Submission Open
Keywords: surface; bone implant; bioactivity; biocompatibility; biomaterials; hard tissue repair; skeleton; biomedical
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Coatings for Biomedicine and Bioengineering)
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