This volume entitled "Protective Coatings and Thin Films : Synthesis, Characterization and Applications" contains the Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop (ARW) held in Alvor, Portugal from May 30 to June 5, 1996. This NATO-ARW was an expert meeting on the surface protection and modification of solid materials subjected to interactions with the environment. The meeting attracted 10 key speakers, 40 contributing speakers and 3 observers from various countries. The existing knowledge and current status of the science and technology related to protective coatings and thin films were assessed through a series of oral presentations, key notes (titles underlined in the volume content) and contributed papers distributed over various sessions dealing with: (a) plasma-assisted physical and chemical vapor deposition processes to enhance wear and corrosion protection of materials, (b) low friction coatings operating in hostile environment (vacuum, space, extreme temperatures, . . . ), (c) polymer films for protection against mechanical damage and chemical attack, (d) characterization of the structure of films and correlations with mechanical properties, (e) wear and corrosion resistant thermal spray coatings, (f) functional gradient ceramic/metallic coatings produced by high energy laser beam and energetic deposition processes for high temperature applications, (g) protective coatings for optical systems, and (h) ion beam assisted deposition of coatings for protection of materials against aqueous corrosion.

Zusammenfassung
Offers a comprehensive survey of the advances in surface engineering. This title places emphasis on the functionality of protective coatings and the relationships between properties, performance and experimental parameters used for the deposition of films on a variety of substrates.

Inhalt
I. Plasma Based Vacuum Deposition Processes to Enhance Wear and Corrosion Performance.- Deposition and Functionality of PVD Coatings Containing Ti2N.- Physical Vapour Deposition of Multi-Component Coatings by Multi-Source Systems With Substrate Rotation: Homogeneity of the Elemental Composition.- Co-Deposition by Magnetron Sputtering as Promising Method to Produce Wear Reducing Multi-Component Coatings.- Soft DLC Coatings as Intermediate Layers for Paint Adhesion and Corrosion Protection.- II. CVD Processes to Enhance Corrosion and Wear Protection.- Influence of the Experimental Parameters of Preparation on the Properties of Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia Films Deposited by Metal Organic Chemical Vapour Deposition.- CVD Silicon Carbonitride Coatings: Synthesis and Some Characteristics.- Boron Carbide Thin Films Prepared by Co2 Laser-Assisted Chemical Vapour Deposition.- The Protective Properties of The Iron Sulfides Corrosion Films in H2O-H2S Systems.- Oxidation-Resistant Coatings for Aerospace Applications A Comparative Evaluation of Different Coating Techniques.- III. Solid Lubricant Coatings: Their Performance and Applicability at Temperature Extremes.- Interaction of Sputtered Mos2 Solid Lubricant Films With Atomic Oxygen.- High-Temperature Durability and Tribological Performance of Diamond and Diamondlike Carbon Films.- Tribological Behavior of Polycrystalline Diamond Films.- IV. Amorphous Carbon Solid Lubricant Films Deposited by Conventional and Unbalanced Magnetron Sputtering.- Environment and Tribochemistry Two Key Factors for The Tribology of Diamond-Like Carbon Coatings.- Property Control of Diamond-Like Carbon Coatings by Selection of Precursor, Bias, and Dilutant.- Chemical Modifications Induced in Polyacrylonitrile Films by Proton Beams.-Mechanisms of Formation and Elementary Properties of Polymer Films Electropolymerized Onto Metallic Surface.- V. Formation and Characterisation of the Structure of Surface Coatings.- Characterization of Tin Coatings by Xrd.- Characterization of Thin Films by X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy.- Real Time Control of the Growth of Silicon Alloys Multilayers by Multiwavelength Ellipsometry.- Simulation of the Synthesis of Chemical Compounds in a Triode Reactive Plasma-Assisted Vapour Deposition System.- VI. Metastable Hard Coatings.- Low Temperature Deposition and Characterization of BN Thin Films.- Tribological Coatings Within The Ti-B-N System.- TiN as Protective Coating for Ball-Valves in Oil Pumping Sysyems.- Hard Coatings Made From Carbon, Boron and Nitrogen.- VII. The Use of Thermal Spray Coatings for Protection Against Wear and Corrosion.- Advanced Coatings for use in Engine Systems as Protection of Performance Deterioration.- Characterization of Thermal Barrier Coatings for Hot Turbo Engine Components.- Wear and Corrosion Resistance of Thermally Sprayed Ceramic Oxide Coatings.- The Protective Effect of Spinel-Type Chromium Oxide Coating on Stainless Steel.- VIII. Functionally Graded Ceramic/Metallic Coatings for Gas Turbine Components by High-Energy Beams for High-Temperature Applications.- Laser Surface Melting to Enhance the Cutting Performance of Powder Metallurgy T15 Grade High Speed Steel Indexable Inserts.- Nanoscale/Multilayer Gradient Materials for Application in the Electromagnetic Gun Systems.- The Formation of Intermetallic Diffusion Barriers by High Temperature Reaction Synthesis of Sputter Deposited Multilayers.- Thermal Oxidation of Ternary and Quaternary Nitrides of Titanium, Aluminum and Silicon.- Reliability of Oxidation Protection Systems for CeramicMatrix Composites.- IX. Protective Coatings for Optical Systems.- Ultra-Durable Coatings Using Phosphide Materials.- Abrasion-Resistant Coatings for Plastic Automotive Glazing.- Protective Transparent Coatings.- X. Protection Against Aqueous Corrosion by Ion Implantation and Ion Beam Assisted Deposition.- Application of Sic Coatings Deposited by Dynamic Ion Mixing to the Improvement of Wear and Corrosion Resistance of Metallic Surfaces.- Growth Mechanisms of Ion Beam Assisted Deposition of Diamond-Like Carbon.- The Use of Plasma Source Ion Implantation for Wear Protection.- Protective Layers in the Field of Orthopaedic Endo-Prostheses.- XI Conclusions of the Nato-Arw and Directions for Future Research and Development on Protective Coatings.