Mantelung

Mantelung is a term in German that denotes the forming or presence of a mantle, i.e., an outer covering or layer surrounding an object. The noun is derived from the verb manteln (to cloak). It is used in several disciplines to describe the process or result of providing a surrounding layer, often to serve protection, insulation, camouflage, or functional modification.

In geology and geomorphology, mantling refers to the accumulation of weathered material or loose cover that lies atop a substrate, such as a mantle of saprolite, regolith, or alluvium that overlays bedrock, influencing erosion, infiltration, and soil formation. In volcanology, mantling can describe deposits that blanket crater rims or lava flows.

In materials science and engineering, mantling or cladding describes the application of a secondary layer on a core material. This mantle may enhance corrosion resistance, reduce wear, alter thermal properties, or provide aesthetic finishes. Common methods include coating, plating, and deposition techniques (e.g., electroplating, powder coating, chemical vapor deposition).

In biology and ecology, mantle-like coatings occur as protective or functional layers on organisms or objects, such as shells, integuments, or camouflage surfaces.

Absent specialized context, Mantelung is generally handled as a multidisciplinary concept referring to the generic act or result of adding a mantle around something. See also Mantle (geology), Mantle (anatomy), Cladding, Coating.