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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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 7339 | 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 2750 | 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 827 | 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)
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 165 | 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 157 | 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)
Advances in the Mechanical Properties of Polymer Films and Coatings
edited by
submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 155 | 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 110 | 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 16011 | 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 2848 | 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 866 | 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 2093 | 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 67 | 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 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1157 | 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 1083 | 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 677 | 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 455 | 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 84845 | 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 7464 | 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 4138 | 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 3094 | 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 2166 | 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 422 | 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 351 | 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 207 | 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 164 | 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 144 | 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 136 | 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 105 | 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 9449 | Submission Open
Keywords: coatings; nanoparticles; graphene; composite coating; antifouling; antimicrobial; nanotechnology; corrosion
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Recent Advances in Surface Functionalisation, 2nd Edition submission deadline 10 Feb 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 5543 | Submission Open
Keywords: texturing; surface modification; wetting behavior; surface finish; surface characterization; wear resistance treatment; corrosion resistance surface treatment; tribological applications; coatings
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Coatings Design and Characterization Using AI and Machine Learning Methods
edited by Yuyun Yang
submission deadline 10 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 236 | Submission Open
Keywords: coatings design; material characterization; artificial intelligence (AI); machine learning (ML); data-driven design
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Laser Welding and Cladding for Enhanced Mechanical Performance
edited by Egidijus Vanagas
submission deadline 10 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 115 | Submission Open
Keywords: coatings; coating engineering; laser-assisted coatings; laser welding; laser cladding; laser peening; CW laser; nanosecond laser; picosecond laser; femtosecond laser; metal– metal welding/cladding; glass– metal welding/cladding; plastic– metal welding/cladding; glass– glass welding/cladding
(This special issue belongs to the Section Laser Coatings)
Research Progress and Application of Super-hydrophobic Anti-icing Surface
edited by Qiang He and
submission deadline 15 Feb 2026 | 8 articles | Viewed by 12114 | Submission Open
Keywords: icing; anti-deicing; superhydrophobic surface; aviation safety; energy conservation
(This special issue belongs to the Section Liquid–Fluid Coatings, Surfaces and Interfaces)
Advanced Materials for Safe and Smart Food Packaging
edited by Deniz Turan
submission deadline 15 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1705 | Submission Open
Keywords: sustainable and biodegradable smart materials; active and responsive coatings; data-driven material design for packaging; nanomaterials for food safety and sensing; real-time intelligent packaging applications
(This special issue belongs to the Section Coatings for Food Technology and System)
Anti-Icing Coatings for Aviation and Renewable Energy
edited by
submission deadline 15 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 152 | Submission Open
Keywords: anti-icing coatings; icephobic surfaces; surface engineering; renewable energy; aviation safety
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Micro- and Nano- Mechanical Testing of Coatings and Surfaces
edited by and
submission deadline 20 Feb 2026 | 9 articles | Viewed by 32323 | Submission Open
Keywords: in situ techniques; small-scale mechanical testing; coatings and thin films; environmental testings; failure mechanism
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Surface Science of Degradation and Surface Protection submission deadline 20 Feb 2026 | 9 articles | Viewed by 17264 | Submission Open
Keywords: organic and inorganic coatings; self-healing coatings; modified metallic surfaces; degradation; mechanical failure; delamination; corrosion; biocorrosion; tribology; wear
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Effective Coating Barriers for Protection of Reinforced Concrete, 2nd Edition
edited by and
submission deadline 20 Feb 2026 | 8 articles | Viewed by 12533 | Submission Open
Keywords: concrete; epoxy coatings; protective coating; innovative coatings
(This special issue belongs to the Section Thin Films)
Investigation on Structure and Corrosion Resistance of Steels/Alloys, 2nd Edition
edited by and
submission deadline 20 Feb 2026 | 6 articles | Viewed by 6858 | Submission Open
Keywords: microstructure; corrosion properties; corrosion resistance; alloys and steels
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Deposition-Based Coating Solutions for Enhanced Surface Properties
edited by , and Dandan Ma
submission deadline 20 Feb 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1438 | Submission Open
Keywords: deposition technology; surface strengthening; wear resistance; corrosion resistance; hard coatings
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Wear and Tribology Properties of Materials, Films and Coatings
edited by , Jeng Haur Horng and
submission deadline 20 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1260 | Submission Open
Keywords: coating; engineering materials; friction; wear; lubrication; simulation; contact mechanism
(This special issue belongs to the Section Thin Films)
Powder Metallurgy of Advanced Materials and Additive Manufacturing-Based Coating Applications
edited by and Ahmed Degnah
submission deadline 20 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 193 | Submission Open
Keywords: powder metallurgy; additive manufacturing; advanced coatings; process– structure– property relationship; CALPHAD modeling; density functional theory; materials simulation; performance evaluation
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Characterization and Applications of Bioactive Coatings
edited by and
submission deadline 20 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 135 | Submission Open
Keywords: bioactive coatings; surface engineering; stimuli-responsive systems; biomedical applications; clinical translation
(This special issue belongs to the Section Bioactive Coatings and Biointerfaces)
Microstructure, Surface Topography and Tribological Properties of Coatings submission deadline 20 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 106 | Submission Open
Keywords: microstructure; topography; surface modification; tribology; tribological compatibility
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Anti-Corrosion and Anti-Wear Coatings: Fundamentals, Technologies, and Applications
edited by and
submission deadline 25 Feb 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 11751 | Submission Open
Keywords: anti-wear coatings; anti-corrosion coatings; coating preparation; microstructure.
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Advances in Polymer Composites, Coatings and Adhesive Materials submission deadline 25 Feb 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 6670 | Submission Open
Keywords: polymer composites; coatings; adhesive materials; oligomers; monomers
(This special issue belongs to the Section Functional Polymer Coatings and Films)
Accelerated Development of Nanomaterials, Coatings, and Thin Films for Optical and Electronic Applications
edited by Žiga Gosar
submission deadline 25 Feb 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 5154 | Submission Open
Keywords: deposition techniques; optical characterization; electronic device fabrication; nanostructured materials; surface functionalization; thin film growth mechanisms; semiconductor nanocrystals; optoelectronic devices
(This special issue belongs to the Section Thin Films)
Surface Engineering for Advanced Applications in Electronics and Energy
edited by Pragathi Darapaneni
submission deadline 25 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1343 | Submission Open
Keywords: surface engineering; thin films; atomic layer deposition; energy storage devices; interfacial modification
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Engineering for Energy Harvesting, Conversion, and Storage)
Advances in Asphalt and Concrete Coatings
edited by , Mayzan Maher Isied, Chenguang Shi and
submission deadline 25 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1093 | Submission Open
Keywords: asphalt modification; concrete coatings; reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP); sustainable pavements; recycling agents; warm-mix asphalt; emulsified asphalt; pavement performance evaluation; continuum damage mechanics; fracture mechanics
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Coatings About Materials and Techniques for Electromagnetic Shielding
edited by Yanfei Pan, Jintian Huang, and Yu Wang
submission deadline 25 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 405 | Submission Open
Keywords: electromagnetic interference shielding; advanced coating technology; structural design; coating durability; multifunctional electromagnetic shielding coatings
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
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