The Role of Surface Engineering in the Automotive Industry

The Role of Surface Engineering in the Automotive Industry

The subject of surface engineering in the automotive industry has developed significantly in the last decade. A large driving force for the need for surface treatments has been energy consumption. 30 per cent of all energy consumed in the European Union derives from transportation activities, relying solely on fossil fuels. Due to this, and the push to reduce the emissions of polluting gases, car manufacturers must produce increasingly energy efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles. One way to do this is by reducing energy losses and wear rates of vehicle components, by either implementing new materials or applying improved surface treatments. In addition, surface treatments have also found decorative applications. [1, 2]

Increased demands from modern automotive systems have necessitated the use of these new technologies to give such improved properties as increased load handling, longer lifetimes and corrosion resistance to name but a few. Engines in particular have received much attention. The engine and its components alone contribute