Adhesion and Contact Mechanics of Material Surfaces
A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Thin Films and Interfaces".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 February 2026
Special Issue Editors
Interests: contact mechanics; tribology; dynamics
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The interactions between material surfaces at contact interfaces play a pivotal role in determining the performance, durability, and functionality of engineering systems and advanced technologies. Adhesion and contact mechanics are fundamental to addressing challenges in fields ranging from tribology and surface engineering to biomedical devices and nanotechnology. Despite significant progress, gaps remain in our understanding of the interplay of surface chemistry, microstructure, mechanical behavior, and environmental factors under dynamic or extreme conditions.
We are pleased to invite contributions from researchers working across various disciplines, including materials science, engineering, physics, and chemistry, who are exploring innovative means of understanding and manipulating surface interactions. This Special Issue aims to consolidate cutting-edge research on the adhesion and contact mechanics of material surfaces, emphasizing experimental, theoretical, and computational advances. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Mechanisms of adhesion in metals, polymers, ceramics, and composites;
- Friction/contact-induced vibration；
- Surface roughness, lubrication, and wear at macro/micro/nanoscales;
- Multiscale modeling of interfacial interactions;
- Role of surface treatments (e.g., coatings, functionalization) in adhesion control;
- Applications in soft robotics, micro/nano-electromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS), biomaterials, and energy systems.
Dr. Wei Cao
Dr. Ke Xiao
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- adhesion mechanics
- contact mechanics
- material surfaces
- interfacial phenomena
- tribology
- surface engineering
- nanomechanics
- biomaterial interfaces
- multiscale modeling
- surface coatings
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