Editor-in-Chief’s Note
Our mission at the Journal of Coating Technology and Innovation (JCTI) is to publish rigorous, reproducible, and practically relevant scholarship that advances coating science and surface engineering. This scope statement clarifies what we publish and how authors can position their work for successful, timely review and high impact.
What We Publish in Coating Journal
We welcome original research, reviews, short communications, case studies, mini-reviews, technical notes, method papers, and perspective/opinion pieces that do one or more of the following:
- Advance coating materials, architectures, or deposition/curing methods with measurable performance gains.
- Elucidate structure–property–process relationships through sound experimentation and/or modeling.
- Demonstrate practical relevance to sectors such as manufacturing, energy, transportation, electronics, and healthcare.
- Offer transparent methodology, accessible data, and sufficient detail to enable replication.
Core Domains
Surface Engineering & Modification
- Thermal/plasma spraying, vapor deposition (PVD/CVD), magnetron sputtering, sol–gel, and electrophoretic/electrodeposition.
- Pre- and post-treatment, multilayers, graded coatings, diffusion layers, and surface texturing.
Functional & Protective Coatings
- Corrosion, wear, and oxidation resistance; tribological and thermal barrier applications.
- Barrier properties, optical/IR performance, conductivity, EMI shielding, and photocatalysis.
Thin and Thick Films
- Design, growth, and characterization of thin films and thick overlays with controlled morphology and interfaces.
- In-situ/operando diagnostics and in-depth studies of adhesion, residual stress, and toughness.
Organic & Waterborne Systems
- Low-VOC, bio-based, powder and UV-curable chemistries; formulation, curing, and lifetime performance.
- Coatings for sustainability: recyclability, safer solvents, and lifecycle assessment.
Smart & Bio-Oriented Coatings
- Stimuli-responsive, self-healing, superhydrophobic/icephobic, antimicrobial/antifouling surfaces.
- Biomedical/implant coatings, drug-release interfaces, and hemocompatibility.
Characterization & Evaluation
- Microstructure: phase analysis, texture/orientation, porosity, and interface chemistry (e.g., XRD, SEM/TEM, XPS, Raman).
- Mechanical: hardness, modulus, scratch/adhesion, fracture/toughness, fatigue and residual stress.
- Functional: corrosion electrochemistry, tribology (friction/wear), contact angle/wettability, optical and thermal properties.
- Durability: cyclic, thermal-shock, erosion, UV/humidity/chemical exposure, real-world service tests.
- Modeling/simulation: computational thermodynamics, multiphysics transport, damage mechanics, and data-driven prediction.
Editorial Priorities
- Methods clarity and transparency—enough detail for replication and benchmarking.
- Quantitative comparisons against meaningful baselines; appropriate statistics and uncertainty reporting.
- Responsible data and image handling (no over-processing; raw data available when possible).
- Clear statements of practical significance for industry, with realistic discussion of limits and failure modes.
Out of Scope
- Commercial product promotion or proprietary performance claims without full methodological transparency.
- Topics without clear connection to coating science or surface engineering.
- Manuscripts lacking adequate experimental detail, controls, or statistical treatment.
Positioning Your Manuscript
- Define the problem and industrial context: Why does this coating, interface, or process matter?
- Describe materials, precursors, substrates, and any surface preparation with traceable identifiers.
- Detail deposition/curing parameters (temperatures, powers, flows, pressures, traverse speeds, duty cycles).
- Report characterization methodology (instrument models, calibration, sample prep, scan parameters).
- Present reproducibility: replicate runs, error bars, confidence intervals, and independent validation.
- Conclude with specific use-cases, scale-up considerations, and safety/environmental notes.
Our Commitment to Authors
We maintain double‑blind peer review and draw on an editorial board with deep academic and industrial experience. Our aim is to provide timely, constructive feedback that improves clarity, strengthens evidence, and elevates the impact of coating research for real applications.
Ready to Submit?
Submit via the Editorial Management System or email the editorial office. In your cover letter, specify the core domain, key innovations, and how your data enable replication. If your work aligns with a special topic (e.g., vapor deposition, smart coatings, or corrosion resistance), indicate this to help us route your paper efficiently.
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