These Proceedings provide a picture of the current knowledge and technology of heat treatment and surface engineering. Most recent developments concerning the thermodynamics and kinetics of the underlying processes are presented here. Special emphasis is placed on process control and computer modelling.

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.