a continuous , uninterrupted two - step treatment process capable of forming nanometer scale physical structures on the surface of articles fabricated from metallic , ceramic , glass , or plastic materials , and then depositing a thin conformal coating on the nanostructured surface such that the physical structures previously produced are neither masked nor are the dimensions of the physical structures substantially altered . in an additional embodiment , a thicker coating can be grown from the thin conformal coating which itself can be nanostructured as it is deposited . in this case adhesion of the thicker coating is not dependent upon the use of conventional surface pretreatments such as machining , chemical etching , or abrasive blasting . surface texturing may be performed by ion beam sputtering , and ion assisted coating forms the thin conformal coating , and thicker coating if desired . the treatment process is useful for improving the mechanical , catalytic , chemical , or biological activity of the surfaces so treated . the process thus has application on industrial machinery and equipment of all types , engines of all types , manufacturing tooling and wear parts of all types , and medical equipment and prostheses .