TY - JOUR

T1 - Perspective on pathways towards responsible surface engineering

AU - Hans, Marcus

AU - Schneider, Jochen M.

AU - Matthews, Allan

AU - Mitterer, Christian

PY - 2024/10/21

Y1 - 2024/10/21

N2 - In this perspective sustainability-relevant aspects of modern surface engineering technologies, which enableimproved structural and functional surface properties, are critically evaluated. Although plasma-assisted physicalvapour deposition (PVD) is increasingly employed to address global challenges, such as energy efficiency andreduction of CO2 emissions, their inherently resource-intensive nature is often not considered.Surface engineering research should thus embrace sustainability-relevant aspects from a processes and materialsdesign point of view. While we are convinced that sustainability-relevant surface engineering has to bebased on synchronised process and materials solutions, we will discuss processes and materials separately.In terms of processes, we are going to describe the challenges of state-of-the-art technology, including energyand mass balances as well as product cycles. With respect to materials, the coating and process purity as well aschemical and microstructural complexity are discussed.Such approaches are fully in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12 ResponsibleConsumption and Production. We expect that the here discussed urgently needed pathways towards responsiblesurface engineering will become important for the surface engineering community and adopted within the nearfuture. Responsible surface engineering includes the human behaviour and necessitates a change in mindset ofmaterials scientists and process engineers. Hence, two main questions are critically evaluated in this perspective:

AB - In this perspective sustainability-relevant aspects of modern surface engineering technologies, which enableimproved structural and functional surface properties, are critically evaluated. Although plasma-assisted physicalvapour deposition (PVD) is increasingly employed to address global challenges, such as energy efficiency andreduction of CO2 emissions, their inherently resource-intensive nature is often not considered.Surface engineering research should thus embrace sustainability-relevant aspects from a processes and materialsdesign point of view. While we are convinced that sustainability-relevant surface engineering has to bebased on synchronised process and materials solutions, we will discuss processes and materials separately.In terms of processes, we are going to describe the challenges of state-of-the-art technology, including energyand mass balances as well as product cycles. With respect to materials, the coating and process purity as well aschemical and microstructural complexity are discussed.Such approaches are fully in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12 ResponsibleConsumption and Production. We expect that the here discussed urgently needed pathways towards responsiblesurface engineering will become important for the surface engineering community and adopted within the nearfuture. Responsible surface engineering includes the human behaviour and necessitates a change in mindset ofmaterials scientists and process engineers. Hence, two main questions are critically evaluated in this perspective:

U2 - 10.1016/j.surfcoat.2024.131486

DO - 10.1016/j.surfcoat.2024.131486

M3 - Article

VL - 494.2024

JO - Surface & coatings technology

JF - Surface & coatings technology

SN - 0257-8972

IS - 30 October, Part 2

M1 - 131486

ER -