Plasma spray metal coatings of Ni-Al, Cu-Ni, Ni-Cr-Al, and Al on Ti-8Mn were analyzed by characterizing the surfaces at each step of the coating process to identify the effects in relation to surface chemical species. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to identify substrate and as-processed phases, hydrocarbon residuals, oxides, and embedded aggregates. The influence of 2-butanone cleaning and grit blasting was seen in the alterations of the C Is and O Is peaks. It was observed that while these cleaning methods were successful at removing macroscopic contaminants, they altered recognizably the surface chemistry in the process. The chemistry of the Ti-8Mn surface substrate was shown to be predominately TiO2. It was shown that compared with the control samples, chemical cleaning increases O and C ambient/organic surface contamination while mechanical cleaning introduces surface embedded aggregates prior to the application of the first coating. Metallization steps also showed the influence of oxide systems which were overlayers on the as-processed coatings.