Meeting tribological challenges with surface engineered materials

Tribological applications in the automotive, cutting tool and biomedical implant sectors continue to raise challenges for engineering materials. A brief review of these sectors indicates opportunities to improve surface durability through the application of innovative coating materials. Specific devices that might be improved in this way are engine piston rings, roller bearings, cams, cam followers, cutting tools and total joint replacements. This is the first time that the impact of thin hard coatings on tribological function has been assessed in three distinct engineering sectors.