Surface engineering refers to a wide range of technologies designed to modify the surface properties of metallic and non-metallic components for decorative and/or functional purposes. Examples include improving corrosion and wear resistance to extend component life; making items more visually attractive; and giving special properties such as lubricity enhancement, non-stick surfaces, etc. In addition, the concept of wear and corrosion processes was also presented. Understanding the differences between them enables engineers to select appropriate surface treatment and coatings technologies to control them. This course not only explains the nature the problem but also provides a comprehensive overview of all the surface engineering processes used for wear resistance and corrosion protection, what they are, how they are applied, where they are used and how successful (or not) they are in particularly applications. The course starts at the beginning explaining the fundamentals of wear and corrosion resistance and builds step-by-step taking you through an understanding of what properties we require of surfaces to prevent wear and corrosion, through to how we go about choosing the right surface engineering technique for an industrial component. It gives a comprehensive overview of all the surface engineering process from mechanical processes through diffusion techniques to the vast array of coatings technologies from paints to plating, thermal spraying techniques to weld overlays. In the course, the status and roles of thermal spraying technologies and laser surface treatment technologies in surface engineering were introduced, where up-to-date progresses and applications in plasma spraying, HVOF, electric arc spraying and plastic powder flame spraying, as well as laser cladding were emphasized. |
