Advances in Surface Modification of Metals and Alloys

Dear Colleagues,

The modification of the surface of metals and alloys is one of the most effective ways to change the mechanical and functional properties of manufactured materials, and to restore worn out equipment or individual parts, increasing their reliability and durability without changing the bulk properties of the material. The modification of surface layers with a thickness ranging from fractions of a millimetre to several millimetres provides high economic efficiency, and reduces the cost of equipment due to the application of ordinary structural materials instead of expensive, high-quality constructional  materials.

In recent decades, much attention has been paid to the development of surface modification methods, such as ion implantation, surface treatment with high-current electron and ion beams, plasma spraying, cold spraying, laser melting, friction stir processing technology, electron beam and electrode–arc surfacing, leading to the formation of gradient structures in metals and alloys. In the process of surface modification, a change in the chemical composition, grain and secondary phase’s refinement, the formation of metastable phases, and the development of the defect structure of crystals up to amorphization, etc., lead to a change in the surface properties. Some of the surface properties that can be modified by this process are hardness, toughness, adhesion, wear resistance, friction, corrosion oxidation, fatigue life, and sliding resistance, etc.

Taking into account the progress in the development of these areas over the years, both in scientific and applied terms, we invite researchers and scientists to contribute to the Special Issue "Advances in Surface Modification of Metals and Alloys". The aim is to create a forum that highlights the latest achievements in the development of surface modification methods, with an emphasis on changing the composition, structure and properties of surface layers, with a fairly clear presentation of the basic principles of the modification methods, but without discussing subtle technical details.

Dr. Pavel Kuznetsov
Prof. Dr. Nikolay Koval
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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