Advances in Coatings Technology and Their Multidisciplinary Applications

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Modern coating technologies play a major role in tailoring surface properties and facilitating advanced functionalities of materials used in a wide range of applications. Recent developments in ceramic, metallic, polymer-based, and hybrid coatings have significantly improved resistance to wear, corrosion, heat, and chemicals, while also introducing new functionalities such as optical, electrical, bioactive, and self-cleaning behavior. These advancements are accelerated by progress in materials design, deposition techniques, and surface characterization techniques.

This Topic aims to provide cutting-edge research on coatings technology with a strong emphasis on multi-disciplinary approaches and real-world applications, bringing together contributions from ceramics, metals, polymers, and composite materials. This Issue also provides a platform for fundamental research, process innovations, and application-oriented approaches related to thin films and surface functionalized coatings. Topics include, but are not limited to, inorganic and organic-based coatings, composite and multilayer coatings, eco-friendly and PFAS-free coatings, coatings through advanced deposition techniques (such as PVD, CVD, thermal spray, and sol-gel), and characterization methods.

The scope of this Topic covers applications across diverse sectors, including energy conversion and storage, electronics, biomedical, aerospace and automotive sectors, and industrial manufacturing. Contributions addressing these applications are particularly encouraged. By bridging researchers from multiple disciplines (including materials science, surface engineering, and applied physics), this Topic seeks to foster knowledge exchange and highlight innovative coating solutions that contribute to high-performance, durable, and sustainable materials.

Dr. Kamalan Kirubaharan Amirtharaj Mosas
Dr. Doni Daniel
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Ceramics ceramics	2.0	3.7	2018	20.4 Days	CHF 1600	Submit
Coatings coatings	2.8	5.4	2011	13 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Materials materials	3.2	6.4	2008	15.5 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Metals metals	2.5	5.3	2011	18.7 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Polymers polymers	4.9	9.7	2009	14.4 Days	CHF 2700	Submit

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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All Ceramics Materials Metals Polymers Coatings

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20 pages, 6101 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Investigations of CrN/TiO₂ Coatings Obtained in the Hybrid PVD/ALD Process on 316L Steel Substrates

by Marcin Staszuk, Daniel Pakuła, Łukasz Reimann, Anna Woźniak, Anna Kloc-Ptaszna, Julia Kolasa and Paweł Nuckowski

Materials 2026, 19(10), 1921; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19101921 - 7 May 2026

Viewed by 319

Abstract

Chromium nitride (CrN) can be used as a coating material deposited via physical vapour deposition (PVD), thereby improving the corrosion and wear resistance of the substrate. However, this level of corrosion protection may not be sufficient in an aggressive corrosion environment. The coatings [...] Read more.

Chromium nitride (CrN) can be used as a coating material deposited via physical vapour deposition (PVD), thereby improving the corrosion and wear resistance of the substrate. However, this level of corrosion protection may not be sufficient in an aggressive corrosion environment. The coatings often contain intrinsic microstructural defects, such as microcraters, which can serve as pathways for the corrosive medium to reach the substrate, thereby initiating and promoting corrosion. In this study, the influence of parameters on the formation of a TiO₂ layer using the ALD technique was investigated. In particular, the work focused on assessing the effectiveness of the TiO₂ layer as a sealing barrier for CrN coatings (PVD) applied to austenitic 316L steel. The TiO₂ ALD coatings were produced at a constant temperature of 200 °C with a varying number of cycles, ranging from 200 to 1000 cycles. Structural investigations were carried out using scanning electron microscopy SEM and atomic force microscopy. Electrochemical properties were investigated using a potentiodynamic test and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in a 3.5% NaCl solution. SEM observations indicate that the morphology of the hybrid coatings is strongly influenced by the number of ALD cycles. The TiO₂ layer conformally reproduces the underlying PVD topography while progressively sealing the coating by filling intrinsic defects and discontinuities. Hybrid coatings (PVD/ALD) with titanium oxide deposited at 500 ALD cycles were found to have the best corrosion resistance. The polarisation resistance for these coatings was nearly four times higher than that of both the single PVD (CrN) coating and the uncoated stainless steel 316L substrate. At the same time, the corrosion current density was several times lower than that of the reference systems. The corrosion mechanisms were investigated by observing the surfaces of the samples after corrosion testing using SEM. Abrasion resistance tests using the pin-on-disc method and adhesion tests (scratch tests) were also performed, which showed that appropriate optimisation of the layer architecture in the PVD/ALD hybrid system significantly improves its tribological durability, interlayer stability, and adhesion to the substrate. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Coatings Technology and Their Multidisciplinary Applications)

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27 pages, 8249 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Multilayer Coatings on the Mechanical and Durability Performance of FRCM Composites

by Ali Çopuroğlu and Bekir Yilmaz Pekmezci

Polymers 2026, 18(9), 1130; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18091130 - 4 May 2026

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Abstract

Fabric-reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) composites are strengthening systems composed of a technical textile embedded in a cementitious or lime-based matrix and are increasingly used for strengthening existing masonry and concrete structures due to their compatibility with traditional substrates. The mechanical behavior of FRCM [...] Read more.

Fabric-reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) composites are strengthening systems composed of a technical textile embedded in a cementitious or lime-based matrix and are increasingly used for strengthening existing masonry and concrete structures due to their compatibility with traditional substrates. The mechanical behavior of FRCM composites is controlled by the combined contribution of the textile reinforcement, the matrix, and the interface developed between them, with the textile–matrix interface playing a critical role in stress transfer, crack development, and post-cracking response. Since this interface is primarily defined by the coating applied to the textile, coating configuration represents a key parameter influencing both the mechanical and durability performance of the composite. In this study, carbon textile–reinforced FRCM systems incorporating a lime-based matrix and different coating strategies, including single-layer SBR coatings and multilayer SBR–epoxy coatings, were experimentally investigated. Tensile tests were conducted on unconditioned specimens as well as after exposure to water and alkaline environments to assess the evolution of tensile behavior and damage mechanisms under durability-related conditioning. The results indicated that the influence of coating configuration is slightly detectable in the pre-cracking elastic stage but becomes significant in the post-cracking stages, where load transfer and damage evolution are predominantly governed by the textile–matrix interface. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations supported the mechanical findings by revealing distinct differences in coating, interfacial continuity, and fiber–matrix bonding, particularly after environmental exposure. Overall, the multilayer coating configuration, consisting of the factory SBR-coated carbon textile further modified with epoxy, resulted in higher maximum tensile strength (reaching up to 1958 MPa compared with 1531–1780 MPa for the single SBR-coated configuration), greater strain capacity (ε_max up to 0.01244 mm/mm compared with 0.00925–0.01066 mm/mm), and higher energy absorption under prolonged water and alkaline conditioning up to 3000 h. In quantitative terms, the multilayer SBR–epoxy coating improved the maximum tensile stress by approximately 10–15% and the total energy absorption capacity by 25–35%, depending on the conditioning regime. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of multilayer coating architecture in improving long-term tensile retention, interfacial stress transfer, and post-cracking deformation capacity of lime-based carbon FRCM systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Coatings Technology and Their Multidisciplinary Applications)

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15 pages, 3529 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Structure and Optical Properties of TiO₂ Films Prepared by Electron Beam Evaporation of Al₂O₃-Doped Ti₃O₅

by Cheng Peng, Xingqi Wang, Zhixia Shi, Huaying Duan, Bitian Zhang and Yanxi Yin

Materials 2026, 19(8), 1614; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19081614 - 17 Apr 2026

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Abstract

The crystal structure regulation of Ti₃O₅ by Al₂O₃ doping and its effect on the optical properties of TiO₂ films prepared by electron beam evaporation were systematically studied. Ti₃O₅ coating materials with different Al [...] Read more.

The crystal structure regulation of Ti₃O₅ by Al₂O₃ doping and its effect on the optical properties of TiO₂ films prepared by electron beam evaporation were systematically studied. Ti₃O₅ coating materials with different Al₂O₃ doping contents (0–50 at%) were prepared by vacuum melting, and the corresponding TiO₂ films were deposited on K9 glass substrates via electron beam vacuum evaporation. The phase structure, phase transition temperature, chemical composition and optical properties of the materials and films were characterized by XRD, DSC, EDS, XPS, UV-Vis and AFM. Results show that Al₂O₃ doping induces the phase transition of Ti₃O₅ from a room-temperature stable β-phase to a high-temperature stable λ-phase, with complete transition at 5 at% doping. Al³⁺ with a smaller ionic radius causes lattice contraction and local distortion of Ti₃O₅, enabling stabilization at room temperature of the λ-phase. For TiO₂ films, 12.5 at% doping is the optimal state with the stable composition transfer under this condition. With the increase in Al₂O₃ doping content, the refractive index and extinction coefficient of TiO₂ films decrease continuously, while the optical band gap and surface roughness show an increasing trend. The changes in optical properties are mainly ascribed to the low refractive index of Al₂O₃, lattice compressive strain effect and oxygen vacancy passivation induced by Al³⁺. This study clarifies the regulation effect of Al₂O₃ doping on Ti₃O₅ phase transition and TiO₂ film optical properties, and provides theoretical basis and experimental reference for the doping modification of TiO₂ films and their practical applications in consumer electronics and optical filter devices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Coatings Technology and Their Multidisciplinary Applications)

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