The role of surface engineering in environmental design

摘要

The paper gives a brief overview of the design for environment approach and uses various case studies of the application of surface engineering to highlight areas in which the implementation of surface engineering techniques can be beneficially implemented to reduce the environmental footprint of products. The case studies selected are cutting tools, turbine blades, corrosion resistant coatings, coatings on glass and self lubricating coatings. The types of benefits expected can include improvement of tribological properties, extending component lifetime, enhancement of fuel efficiency, conservation of materials, waste minimisation and cost reduction. The influence of increased performance on component design is also briefly discussed.