Marine engineering equipment operates under extreme conditions such as high salinity, humidity, and flow velocity during marine resource exploration. These harsh environments impose strict requirements on surface performance, especially in terms of wear and corrosion resistance. Wear-resistant coatings are increasingly regarded as a crucial surface engineering approach to mitigate multi-mechanism degradation and improve the long-term reliability of marine equipment. In this review, the typical wear mechanisms in marine environments are systematically analyzed. Corresponding to different service scenarios, the main categories of coating materials, such as metal matrix composite coatings, cermet coatings, functionally graded coatings, and nanolayered coatings are summarized in terms of their structure and performance characteristics. Furthermore, mainstream fabrication techniques, including high-velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF), high-velocity air-fuel (HVAF), laser cladding, cold spray, and physical/chemical vapor deposition (PVD/CVD), are reviewed with respect to their influence on coating micro-structure and properties. Standardized evaluation methods for coating performance are also discussed. Finally, the current research challenges are identified, and future development trends are outlined, with an emphasis on multifunctional, intelligent, and environmentally friendly coating systems. This work aims to provide a systematic reference and theoretical basis for the design and application of wear-resistant coatings in marine environments.

With the advancement of industrial technology toward high speed, heavy load, precision, and automation, traditional sliding bearing materials have been unable to meet modern industrial demands. Surface coating technology, as an efficient surface modification method, has become a key means to enhance the tribological properties, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and fatigue resistance of sliding bearings, thus extending their service life. This paper systematically reviews the research progress of coating technology for sliding bearings in the past, aiming to fill the gap in comprehensive summaries of multi-material systems and multi-process technologies in existing reviews. In terms of materials, it focuses on the performance characteristics and application scenarios of three major coating types—metal-based, ceramic-based, and polymer-based—clarifying their advantages and limitations. In terms of processes, it analyzes the technical characteristics of mainstream methods including electroplating, magnetron sputtering, and laser cladding, as well as their innovative applications in replacing traditional processes. Furthermore, this review summarizes the latest research results in coating performance evaluation, such as tribological testing via pin-on-disk testers and corrosion resistance analysis via salt spray tests. Finally, it discusses future development trends in new materials, new process applications, and environmental sustainability. This work is expected to provide a valuable reference for related research and engineering applications in the field of sliding bearing coatings.

Sliding bearing shells experience repeated bending loads, and fatigue cracking of the copper-alloy working layer can limit their service life. This study evaluated the high-cycle fatigue behavior of steel-backed copper-alloy plates using reciprocating bending tests and finite element fatigue analysis. Specimens were tested at displacement amplitudes of 1.25, 1.50, 2.00, and 2.50 mm under fully reversed loading, with a run-out limit of 10 million cycles. No macroscopic cracks were observed at amplitudes of 1.25–2.00 mm after 10 million cycles; at 2.50 mm, a visible crack appeared at approximately 8.2 million cycles. As displacement amplitude increased from 1.25 to 2.50 mm, the simulated maximum stress rose from 322.31 to 644.62 MPa, while the minimum fatigue safety factor fell from 3.1676 to 0.79191. At 2.50 mm, the predicted high-stress and low-safety-factor regions corresponded spatially to the experimentally observed cracking region. Fracture-surface observations indicated that cracking began at the copper-alloy surface, advanced toward the copper–steel interface, and was followed by cracking in the steel backing near the interface. These findings identify a critical displacement-amplitude range of 2.00–2.50 mm for the tested configuration and show how combined fatigue testing and simulation can help locate fatigue-critical regions in bimetallic bearing plates.