Surfaceweb Guide to Coating Selection

The route to solving your friction, wear and corrosion problems

Surface Engineering involves the modification of a component surface, either metallurgically, mechanically, chemically, or by adding a coating, so that it can provide specialist properties. The purpose might to minimise corrosion, reduce frictional energy losses, reduce wear, act as a diffusion barrier, provide thermal insulation, exclude certain wavelengths of radiation, promote electronic interactions, electrically insulate, or simply improve the aesthetic appearance. Ideally, the process is performed without compromise to the core properties of the component, the designer having chosen the material and its fabrication method so that the structural properties have been optimised.

Finding the right coating solution for your problem

The first step is to understand the nature of your problem and what it is that your require of the surface. Select from the list below.

Friction, reducing or controlling it.

Wear, understanding the mechanisms and combating it

Corrosion, the different types and its prevention.

Thermal Barriers, coatings to provide thermal insulation.

Fatigue, the mechanism of fatigue and treatments to improve fatigue performance.

If you are unsure of the problem that you face, but have a specific component or application in mind, then please contact us at