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ASM Handbook: Surface Engineering (Vol 5)

Article  in  Tribology International · January 2000

DOI: 10.1016/S0301-679X(00)00006-2

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 Tribology International 33 (2000) 67
Book review
ASM Handbook: Surface Engineering (Vol 5)
ASM International, 1999, pp. 1039, ISBN 0-87170-384-
X, £143 hardback
This is a completely revised and expanded volume of
the well known ASM Handbooks. The continuous
expansion of the coverage of surface engineering pro-
cesses in ASM Handbooks through the years almost sug-
gests that any review is hardly relevant, in that it must
be a useful book.
This volume describes surface modifications for appli-
cations such as structural components, in which the bulk
material properties are of primary consideration and the
surface properties must be modified for aesthetics, oxi-
dation resistance, hardness, or other considerations.
Since the 9th edition of Metals Handbook, where the
title of this volume was Surface Cleaning, Finishing and
Coatings, several new materials and processes have been
added. An overview of the surface engineering of irons
and steels is provided in a separate new section, while
the topic of nonmetallic materials (ceramics, glasses and
polymers) is also addressed in this edition. Regarding
the treatment techniques, several new technologies
involving deposition of energetic atoms have been
included. Reflecting the development of electronics
materials, the coverage of processes specifically appli-
cable to semiconductors and dielectrics has been
expanded. One of the main additions also consists of
a section devoted to the testing and characterisation of
coatings and thin films. Subjects such as film thickness
measurements, corrosion testing, mechanical testing of
thin films are treated in a concise and comprehensive
way. The practical information regarding the experi-
mental procedures refers extensively to ASTM stan-
dards. Although a chapter is devoted to an overview of
wear and erosion testing, it is very limited in length and
of limited practical use for tribological engineers. For
further information, the reader is sent to another volume
of the ASM Handbook (Friction, Lubrication, and Wear
Technology, vol. 18) and to ASTM standards listed in
the references.
In this edition, a new section has also been added that
specifically addresses the environmental protection
issues associated with the surface treatment of materials.
This is a welcome initiative, as the growing environmen-
tal concerns questions the use of many surface modifi-
cation processes, such as cadmium or chromium plating,
which have the potential of creating major environmen-
0301-679X/00/$ - see front matter  2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
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tal problems. Environmental regulations as well as alter-
nate surface treatments to replace the more environmen-
tally hostile methods are described within this section.
Although an impressing diversity of surface engineer-
ing technologies is covered in this handbook, it is, how-
ever, a little surprising that no explicit mention is made
of ‘hybrid’ and ‘functionally graded’ coatings which are
now widely researched.
This volume is organised both by treatment techniques
and base materials. The material oriented sections
present the advantage of providing some guidelines for
the selection of appropriate surface treatments for spe-
cific use properties, which is hardly possible with the
technique-oriented classification. A section synthesising
the main treatments which can be used for the achieve-
ment of specific surface properties would, however, have
been proved to be useful for engineers who have to deal
with the selection of appropriate treatments for a given
application.
The first several sections regarding the techniques
cover surface cleaning, finishing, plating, chemical coat-
ing, vapor deposition, ion implantation and diffusion
treatment. They contain a lot of detailed and useful infor-
mation on the control of process parameters, the avail-
able equipment, the advantage and the drawbacks of the
technique. Each section is prepared with great attention
to details and very clear graphics and tables help the
reading.
The handbook runs to about 1000 pages and, to make
it accessible, has an extensive index and a glossary of
terms allowing cross-referencing and quick access to the
various sections.
In summary, it is a very useful, well established hand-
book, which will be helpful to those active in industry
who deal with surface engineering processes. If expens-
ive for individual purchase at £143, this book represents
very good value.1
Dr Antoine Chateauminois
Ecole Centrale de Lyon,
Surface Engineering Laboratory,
69131 Ecully Cedex,
France
E-mail address: antoine.chateauminois@ec-lyon.fr
1
This book is available in Europe from: American Technical Pub-
lishers Ltd, 27–29 Knowl Piece, Wilbury Way, Hitchin, Herts, SG4
0SX, England