metalliseos

Metalliseos is a term encountered in some areas of materials science to denote the metallization of surfaces and the related study of metallic coatings. The word blends the Latin metallum (metal) with a suffix suggesting process or state; however, the term is not uniformly defined in mainstream reference works and may be used differently by authors.

Scope and methods: Metalliseos encompasses processes that deposit or form metallic layers on substrates. Common techniques include electroplating and electroless plating, physical vapor deposition such as sputtering and evaporation, chemical vapor deposition, atomic layer deposition, and diffusion-based coatings. The field covers surface preparation, coating adhesion, microstructure, diffusion at interfaces, residual stresses, and the performance of coatings in corrosion, wear, and electrical or thermal conduction.

History and context: The development of metalliseos concepts paralleled advances in coatings technology during the 20th century, with early work focused on decorative and protective metal layers and later expanding to functional coatings for electronics, aerospace, and energy applications. The terminology remains varied, and some researchers treat metalliseos as a broad descriptor for surface metallization rather than a distinct discipline.

Applications and evaluation: Metalliseos-informed coatings are used to improve hardness, reduce wear, enhance corrosion resistance, enable electrical conductivity, or tailor optical properties. Evaluation relies on coating thickness measurements, adhesion testing, surface morphology analysis, hardness tests, and characterization techniques such as SEM, TEM, XRD, and profilometry. Challenges include improving adhesion on complex geometries, ensuring environmental sustainability of plating processes, and achieving uniform coatings at scale.

See also: Metallurgy, Surface engineering, Coatings, Electrodeposition, Thin films.