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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Microstructure and Corrosion Behavior of High-Entropy Coatings
edited by
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2582 | 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 2572 | 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 2053 | 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 1594 | 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 1157 | 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 822 | 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 810 | 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 454 | 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 354 | 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 191 | 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 163 | 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 9618 | 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 1469 | 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 1394 | 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 1172 | 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 817 | 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 submission deadline 10 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 155 | 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 1526 | 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 35967 | 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 15081 | 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 10349 | 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 8374 | 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 3171 | 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 900 | 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)
Treatments and Modifications for Wood Surface Protection and Wood Bonding
edited by
submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 399 | 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)
Advances in the Mechanical Properties of Polymer Films and Coatings
edited by
submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 174 | 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)
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 173 | 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)
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 172 | 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)
Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces: Biomedical and Healthcare Applications submission deadline 25 Jan 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 16976 | 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 3126 | 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 962 | 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 2206 | 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 76 | 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 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1449 | 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 1239 | 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 732 | 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 488 | 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 92628 | 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 8502 | 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 | 4 articles | Viewed by 4831 | 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)
Advancements in Surface Engineering, Coatings and Tribology submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 3726 | Submission Open
Keywords: coatings; surface engineering; tribology; wear resistance; surface modification
(This special issue belongs to the Section Tribology)
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 2241 | 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)
Liquid–Solid Interfaces in Environmental Research
edited by
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 434 | 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 388 | 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)
Advances in Surface and Coatings Technologies
edited by , Ana Violeta Girão and
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 214 | Submission Open
Keywords: surface engineering; biosensors; functional coatings; remediation; extreme environments; coating technologies; reliability coatings
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plasma Coatings, Surfaces & Interfaces)
Multifunctional Composite Coatings: Design and Performance
edited by , and Guiqiang Liang
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 177 | Submission Open
Keywords: composite; multifunctionality; self-healing materials; organic– inorganic hybrids; smart coatings; sustainable materials; advanced manufacturing; coatings
(This special issue belongs to the Section Functional Polymer Coatings and Films)
Carbon-Based Thin Films for Enhanced Surface Properties submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 152 | Submission Open
Keywords: carbon-based thin films; two-dimensional nanostructured films; multifunctional coatings; advanced coatings; the synthesis and characterization of thin films
(This special issue belongs to the Section Thin Films)
Coatings with Various Functionalities in Marine Environments
edited by and Yanling Yang
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 151 | Submission Open
Keywords: anti-corrosion coatings; anti-fouling coatings; self-healing coatings; nanocomposite coatings; super-hydrophobic coatings; multi-functional coatings; electrochromic coatings; surface interface characterization; service/failure evaluation of coatings
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Advances in Ceramic Coatings: Fabrication, Properties and Applications in Industry, Energy and Biomedicine submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 120 | Submission Open
Keywords: ceramic coatings; thin films; high-temperature applications; wear resistance; thermal barrier coatings; surface engineering; functional materials; manufacturing techniques; corrosion resistance; biomedical coatings
(This special issue belongs to the Section Ceramic Coatings and Engineering Technology)
Corrosion Resistance of Innovative Composite Coatings Based on Nanoparticles submission deadline 10 Feb 2026 | 6 articles | Viewed by 10428 | Submission Open
Keywords: coatings; nanoparticles; graphene; composite coating; antifouling; antimicrobial; nanotechnology; corrosion
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
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