THE SURFACE ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

The Surface Engineering Technology



The Surface Engineering Technology

Introduction

Surface engineering refers to a wide range of technologies that design and modify the surface properties and characteristics of components. The applications are very broad from macro to nano and from extremely hard materials to polymeric coatings. The uses are found in many engineering, energy, gas and oil, transport, medical, cosmetic, optical, chemical and sports industries. Research in this technology is ongoing and the benefits that can be derived are enormous. The design, wear and tribological properties of components for instance have been greatly enhanced by surface engineering and the economic benefits to industries far outweigh the cost and use of traditional materials. This paper discusses describes the application of this technology and the potential benefits to be derived from current research and innovation in this discipline (Chattopadhyay, 2004, P 64).

Considerable progress has been made over the last few decades in the development, testing and characteristics of advanced Surface Engineering. Prior to these developments, materials were subjected to heat treatments, paint, galvanising, alloying, anodising, carburising, and shot blasting which had limited effects on material properties and component enhancement. Countries such as Germany, Britain, France, United States of America, Australia, India and China have developed and exploited the uses of surface coatings for Industrial applications in many disciplines of Science and Engineering. A current report in Britain produced by the National Surface Engineering Centre (Nasurf) estimates that Surface Engineering processes could affect manufactured products worth £120 Billion and Surface Engineering is currently worth over £20 Billion to the U.K. economy. It has been estimated that the cost of wear, fatigue and corrosion amount to 4 % of GDP, the value of the UK coating market in 2005 to be in the region of UK£21.3bn and the value of products critically affected by coatings for the UK is in the order of £143bn . Surface Engineering is continually evolving, where researchers are exploiting new discoveries and applications for coatings, both from nature, replacing old methods and from experimentation (Chattopadhyay, 2001, P 45).

A Critical Review of the Surface Engineering Technology used in Industry for the Following Surface Modification (i.e. surface treatment, surface thermo-chemical treatment)

In the cutting tool industry, modern cutting applications cannot be accomplished without protecting the tools with a thin wear-resistant, diffusion barrier coating. These applications include high speed cutting, hard machining of high hardness (Rockwell>60C) materials, dry cutting and cutting of materials such as Titanium, AlSi alloys or other nonferrous materials. They enhance wear resistance and hardness at the cutting edge and reduce diffusion and friction. Other applications include high toughness as in punching and piercing operations. In the transport industry, approximately 6% of the costs of manufacturing engines and transmissions involve coating technologies.

In the aerospace industry, coatings on engine parts have been practised for over 50 years. Surface coated gas turbine engine provide high strength at high temperatures, corrosion resistance, abradable seals and bearing properties. Spacecraft components such as gears and ball bearings, coated with MoS2, ...