Publisher's Synopsis
The book reports on new scientific and technological developments involving:1.the substitution of phenomenological knowledge by fundamental insight on the structure-property relations (e.g. nitriding and nitrocarburazing); 2.the modelling and control of various processes as, in particular, the classical quenching and tempering and the thermochemical processes; 3.the emergence of dedicated surface treatments, as those based on ion beams and the numerous ways for physical vapour deposition; and 4.the rise to maturity of vacuum and plasma technology including the application of (atmosphere) sensors of various kinds.
