Multiscale Interactions between Surface Topographies, Their Functions and Formation Technologies for Crystalline Materials

Dear Colleagues,

Surfaces cover everything. Heat, mass, loads, and charge are transferred across surfaces. Contact, wear, and adhesion occur between surfaces. Cracks and degradation start at surfaces. Surfaces scatter, reflect, and absorb radiation. Wetting occurs on surfaces.

Surface topographies influence many things, and almost all manufacturing processes influence surface topographies. Physical features of different sizes comprise topographies. These often appear to be different when observed at different scales of observation, hence the need for multiscale considerations.

Despite all the work on topographies, there is still a lack of experimental evidence of correlations or discrimination for many situations in which surface topographies are suspected of being involved. Surfaces affect crystallization kinetics as well as the morphology of the crystals that form on the surface. Surface-induced phenomena also have important effects on the formation of glassy states, and vapor deposition on surfaces has been shown to result in denser glasses.

Finding the scale of interaction between surface and physical phenomena occurring during crystallization should contribute to a better understanding of the nature of the process and its effect on the functionality of the resulting microstructures. Multiscale analyses can also elucidate certain fundamental scales for surface interactions in physics, chemistry, and biology, and advance the understanding of many topographically related phenomena. Scale ranges from atoms to micrometers can be interesting.

In terms of the surface finishing of crystalline materials, an appropriate optimization of manufacturing parameters, aimed at improving individual surface-dependent properties, is crucial. This especially concerns the controlled fabrication of surface features that can directly impact the service lives of produced parts and their long trouble-free operation. The appropriate analysis of such properties, both conventionally produced by machining, casting, and injection molding, and produced using novel, nonconventional methods such as additive technologies, both 3D and 4D printing, and micro electric discharge machining and laser texturing is of high scientific and industrial importance and part of the scope of this Special Issue.

An important subtopic is interdisciplinary research related to techniques and measurement problems. It may concern the assessment of measurement accuracy and the measurement uncertainty of research infrastructure in terms of production with modern technologies. This Issue is also devoted to the analysis and improvement of modern production processes and metrological analysis.

It is our pleasure to invite you to submit original research papers, short communications or state-of-the-art reviews that are within the scope of the Special Issue. The papers can include novel approaches to the production of components using modern materials and technologies, and the analysis of their mechanical, tribological, physical, and metrological properties, which are influenced by surface texture.

Dr. Tomasz Bartkowiak
Dr. Paweł Zmarzły
Dr. Damian Gogolewski
Dr. Tomasz Kozior
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. Crystals 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 2100 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.

• Multiscale analysis
• Surface topography
• Roughness
• Surface metrology
• Surface texture
• Feature-based characterizations
• Surface–function interactions
• Additive manufacturing
• Nontraditional manufacturing