Emergence of chemical and electrochemical processes in surface engineering

The new century opens with a large stock of available coating process technologies, among which are old (electroplating) and new (physical vapour deposition, PVD) techniques. While electroplating may have some disadvantages, its proven technology is of primary importance, which is demonstrated by a number of large, continuing applications. By contrast, the cost and operating disadvantages of PVD will ensure that it maintains a small specialist niche in the coating technology spectrum.