Surface Layers - Structure-Property Relations

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.