Dear Colleagues,

Thin layers technologies, in particular those based on physicochemical processes and hybrid deposition systems, are an important part of current studies in the field of surface engineering of coatings materials. In the case of functional materials, there is a growing need for novel interlayers and coatings that assure increased hardness, wear resistance, low friction coefficient, biocompatibility, etc. For instance, thin-layer deposition technologies, also provided in hybrid systems, allow to obtain of coatings on structural elements with complex shapes and simultaneously ensure good adhesion to the substrate, a homogeneous chemical composition, and precisely defined surface properties for the application. In this regard, technologies carried out in reduced pressure conditions involving physical phenomena and chemical reactions in plasma have excellent prospects, as well altogether with immersion methods. New, potential technologies are related to both the selection of the chemical and phase composition of thin coatings and the design of individual stages of the synthesis process, which lead to obtaining a novel material with a specific set of functional properties. Thus, importantly, intentional processes in hybrid systems can be useful to obtain layered materials for operating in the working conditions of a given structural element.

In view of the foregoing, we invite you to present your valuable research focused on the possibility to obtain functional coatings with the application of different deposition systems on metallic, polymeric, or ceramic substrates in the Special Issue of Materials entitled: “New Challenges of Coating Deposition Processes: Microstructure Evolution and Properties”. In particular, the topics of interest include, but are not limited to: (i) functional coatings, (ii) hybrid coatings, (iii) plasma processes, and (iv) microstructure evolution.

Dr. Karol Kyzioł
Dr. Mars Krzysztof
Prof. Dr. Marek Hebda
Guest Editors

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• coatings deposition
• surface modification
• functional coatings
• hybrid coatings
• diffusion layers
• bioengineering
• microstructure evolution