Description: Improvement of only the properties of the surface can largely improve the performance of the entire workpiece. Hence, engineering the surface by the application of surface layers has become of major importance.
Two, principally different routes can be followed to obtain a surface layer: (i) treating the surface of the original material (laser/electron beam hardening, plasma treatments, and thermomechanical treatments like carburizing and nitriding) or (ii) covering the surface with another material.

ASM Heat Treatment and Surface Engineering Conference I

Edited by: E.J. Mittemeijer

Online since: January 1992

Description: The book reports on new scientific and technological developments involving:
1.the substitution of phenomenological knowledge by fundamental insight on the structure-property relations (e.g. nitriding and nitrocarburazing); 2.the modelling and control of various processes as, in particular, the classical quenching and tempering and the thermochemical processes; 3.the emergence of dedicated surface treatments, as those based on ion beams and the numerous ways for physical vapour deposition; and 4.the rise to maturity of vacuum and plasma technology including the application of (atmosphere) sensors of various kinds.