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Metals
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Surface Modification and Characterization of Metals and Alloys
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Surface Modification and Characterization of Metals and Alloys

A special issue of Metals (ISSN 2075-4701).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 4269

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Lihua Zhu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Mechanical Engineering, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, China
Interests: laser/ultraosnic surface processing; surface strengthening and modification; surface nanocrystallization; advanced plastic forming technology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

For metals and alloys, common failure modes such as wear, fracture, and corrosion typically begin on the surface of the material. n order to enhance the key performance indicators of metal materials, including strength, hardness, rigidity, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance, the industry generally adopts surface modification and strengthening technologies. These methods not only significantly improve the basic physical and mechanical properties of materials, but also provide the possibility for the functionalization of material surfaces.

Specifically, by constructing coatings or structures with special functional properties, such as superhydrophobicity or superhydrophilicity on the surface of metals or alloys, specific challenges encountered in engineering in practice can be effectively addressed, thereby expanding the application scope of these materials and improving their service performance in specific environments.

The aim of this Special Issue, titled "Surface Modification and Characterization of Metals and Alloys", is to compile cutting-edge research and comprehensive reviews that highlight recent advancements in the field. The scope of this Special Issue includes, but is not limited to, the following:

Processes: Advanced technologies for improving or modifying the surface properties of metals and alloys, including various coating techniques, laser surface treatments, various shot peening techniques, cold/hot spraying techniques, surface nanocrystallization techniques, surface alloying, surface functionalization, surface heat treatment, etc.

Properties: Investigations into how modified surfaces impact material behavior, covering aspects such as hardness, friction and wear resistance, corrosion and oxidation resistance, thermal protection, hydrophilic or hydrophobic characteristics, biocompatibility, and multifunctional properties relevant to smart materials for environmental, energy, and medical applications.

We welcome original research articles and review papers that contribute significantly to the field.

Dr. Lihua Zhu
Guest Editor

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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Metals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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

  • surface strengthening
  • surface modification
  • surface functionalization
  • surface coatings
  • surface nanocrystallization
  • friction and wear resistance
  • corrosion and oxidation resistance

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

24 pages, 12498 KB  
Article
Study on Surface Properties and Microstructural Evolution of LA103Z Mg-Li Alloy by Friction Stir Processing
by Jiqiang Zhai, Kai Hu, Zihan Kong and Xinzhen Fang
Metals 2026, 16(1), 108; https://doi.org/10.3390/met16010108 - 18 Jan 2026
Viewed by 404
Abstract
Magnesium–lithium alloys are the lightest structural metals and offer high specific strength, good damping capacity, and excellent thermal conductivity; however, their limited room-temperature strength restricts wider engineering applications. In this study, friction stir processing (FSP) was applied to LA103Z magnesium–lithium alloy to modify [...] Read more.
Magnesium–lithium alloys are the lightest structural metals and offer high specific strength, good damping capacity, and excellent thermal conductivity; however, their limited room-temperature strength restricts wider engineering applications. In this study, friction stir processing (FSP) was applied to LA103Z magnesium–lithium alloy to modify its surface microstructure and mechanical properties. The effects of tool rotational speed and travelling speed on dynamic recrystallization behavior, grain refinement, and phase evolution in the stirred zone (SZ) and thermomechanically affected zone (TMAZ) were systematically investigated. FSP induced significant grain refinement accompanied by the precipitation of a reticular α-Mg phase along β-Li grain boundaries, as well as Li3Mg7 and Li2MgAl phases within the stirred zone, leading to pronounced strengthening. Under optimized processing conditions, substantial improvements in hardness and tensile properties were achieved compared with the base material. The optimal condition was obtained at 600 rpm and 100 mm/min, yielding an average hardness of 79.17 HV0.2, a tensile strength of 243.6 MPa, and an elongation of 17.9%, corresponding to increases of 47.5% in hardness and 53.3% in tensile strength. Quantitative relationships between heat input, grain size, and mechanical properties further demonstrate that heat input governs microstructural evolution and strengthening behavior during FSP of LA103Z alloy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Modification and Characterization of Metals and Alloys)
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13 pages, 1799 KB  
Article
Effect of Micro-Arc Oxidation Voltage on the Surface Morphology and Properties of Ceramic Coatings on 7075 Aluminum Alloy
by Zarina Satbayeva, Ainur Zhassulan, Bauyrzhan Rakhadilov, Aibek Shynarbek, Kuanysh Ormanbekov and Aiym Leonidova
Metals 2025, 15(7), 746; https://doi.org/10.3390/met15070746 - 2 Jul 2025
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1484
Abstract
Ceramic oxide coatings were fabricated on 7075 aluminum alloy via micro-arc oxidation (MAO) in a silicate-phosphate electrolyte under voltages of 250 V, 300 V, and 350 V for 600 s. The effect of the applied voltage on the surface morphology, microstructure, phase composition, [...] Read more.
Ceramic oxide coatings were fabricated on 7075 aluminum alloy via micro-arc oxidation (MAO) in a silicate-phosphate electrolyte under voltages of 250 V, 300 V, and 350 V for 600 s. The effect of the applied voltage on the surface morphology, microstructure, phase composition, microhardness, roughness, coating thickness, and corrosion resistance was systematically studied. The coating obtained at 300 V demonstrated a dense structure with relatively low surface roughness (2.3 μm) and a thickness of approximately 70 μm. This sample also exhibited the most balanced performance, combining relatively high microhardness (~422 HV) and the lowest corrosion current density (6.1 × 10−7 A/cm2) in a 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution. X-ray diffraction patterns revealed the presence of both γ- and α-Al2O3 phases in all coated samples, with a relative increase in α-phase intensity observed at an intermediate voltage. The results demonstrate that the applied voltage plays a critical role in determining the coating structure and performance, offering insights into the surface treatment of high-strength aluminum alloys for engineering applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Modification and Characterization of Metals and Alloys)
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17 pages, 5024 KB  
Article
Optimization of Deposition Parameters for Ni-P-WC-BN(h) Composite Coatings via Orthogonal Experimentation and Wear Behavior of the Optimized Coating
by Yingyue Li, Zehao Liu, Yana Li and Jinran Lin
Metals 2025, 15(7), 714; https://doi.org/10.3390/met15070714 - 26 Jun 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 943
Abstract
Ni–P–WC–BN(h) nanocomposite coatings were fabricated on 20CrMnTi substrates using ultrasonic-assisted pulsed electrodeposition. 20CrMnTi is a low-carbon steel that is commonly used in the manufacturing gears and shaft components. To enhance the wear resistance and extend the service life of such mechanical parts, ultrasonic-assisted [...] Read more.
Ni–P–WC–BN(h) nanocomposite coatings were fabricated on 20CrMnTi substrates using ultrasonic-assisted pulsed electrodeposition. 20CrMnTi is a low-carbon steel that is commonly used in the manufacturing gears and shaft components. To enhance the wear resistance and extend the service life of such mechanical parts, ultrasonic-assisted pulsed electrodeposition was employed as an effective surface modification technique. The microhardness, phase structure, surface morphology, and wear behavior of the coating were also characterized. An orthogonal experimental design was employed to examine the effects of current density, bath temperature, ultrasonic power, and pulse duty cycle on the microhardness and wear behavior of the coatings, aiming to optimize the deposition parameters. The optimal process combination was identified as a current density of 3 A·dm−2, a bath temperature of 55 °C, an ultrasonic power of 210 W, and a duty cycle of 0.7. Under these conditions, the coatings exhibited enhanced hardness and wear resistance. Based on the optimized parameters, additional tribological tests were conducted under various operating conditions to further evaluate wear performance. The results showed that the dominant wear mechanisms were chemical wear and adhesive wear. This study offers new insights into the fabrication of high-performance nanocomposite coatings and expands the application scope of ultrasonic-assisted pulsed electrodeposition in multiphase composite systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Modification and Characterization of Metals and Alloys)
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12 pages, 3061 KB  
Article
Effect of Electrolytic-Plasma Hardening on the Microstructure and Tribological Properties of Low-Alloy Steels
by Bauyrzhan Rakhadilov, Zarina Satbayeva, Almasbek Maulit, Rinat Kurmangaliyev and Anuar Rustemov
Metals 2025, 15(7), 698; https://doi.org/10.3390/met15070698 - 23 Jun 2025
Viewed by 847
Abstract
This study investigates the effect of electrolytic-plasma hardening (EPH) on the structure, phase composition, and tribological properties of the low-alloy steels 20Cr2Ni4A and 37Cr4 (1.7034) (EN). Hardening was carried out at a voltage of 320 V for 7 s in an aqueous solution [...] Read more.
This study investigates the effect of electrolytic-plasma hardening (EPH) on the structure, phase composition, and tribological properties of the low-alloy steels 20Cr2Ni4A and 37Cr4 (1.7034) (EN). Hardening was carried out at a voltage of 320 V for 7 s in an aqueous solution containing 20% soda ash and 10% carbamide. Using scanning electron microscopy, the formation of a zonal structure with a hardened surface layer characterized by a needle-like martensitic morphology was revealed. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the presence of Fe, Fe3C, Fe2C, and FeO phases. Microhardness measurements confirmed a significant increase in the hardness of the hardened layer. Tribological tests showed a reduction in the coefficient of friction to 0.574 for 20Cr2Ni4A steel and to 0.424 for 37Cr4 (1.7034) (EN) steel, indicating an improvement in wear resistance after EPH. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Modification and Characterization of Metals and Alloys)
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