There are two general descriptions of surface treatment commonly referred to in China. One is the broad definition, which encompasses various physical and chemical methods such as pretreatment, electroplating, painting, chemical oxidation, and thermal spraying. The other is the narrow definition, referring to processes like sandblasting and grinding.

According to the common classification method of metal surface treatment processes, surface treatment is divided into four major categories:

1. Mechanical Surface Treatment: Sandblasting, shot peening, polishing, buffing, buffing, brushing, painting, varnishing, oiling, etc.

2. Chemical Surface Treatment: Blueing, blackening, phosphatizing, acid pickling, chemical plating of various metals and alloys, TD treatment, QPQ treatment, chemical oxidation, etc.

3. Electrochemical Surface Treatment: Anodizing, electrochemical polishing, electroplating, etc.

4. Advanced Surface Treatment: Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD), Ion Implantation, Ion Plating, Laser Surface Treatment, etc.