New applications of ion vapour deposition in surface engineering

Surface coating has become an important tool that offers designers with the opportunity to alter the surface characteristics of most materials. Recently, there have been a growing interest in a number of important surface coatings for various applications including aluminium or cadmium for corrosion protection. TiN for wear resistance and diamond hard coating for frictional, electrical and optical characteristics. Of the many techniques employed in surface engineering, Ion Vapour deposition has received the most interest due to its flexibility in terms of depositing any material, whether single or alloy, adhesion, throwing power, cost and environmental considerations. This paper discuss the recent development in the surface coating technology and reviews some of the important applications of ion vapour in various industries. (author)