The International Thermal Spray Conference is the largest international gathering of this type dedicated to the science and technology of thermal spray. It brings together researchers, engineers, technicians, equipment and powder manufacturers, coating applicators, and end-users from around the world at an annual meeting in cities in Asia, the United States and Europe.The event is organized jointly by the ASM Thermal Spray Society (TSS), the German Welding Society (DVS), and the International Institute of Welding (IIW). The conference serves as a forum for exchanging ideas, discussing challenges, identifying solutions, exhibiting the latest technology and newest equipment, and presenting cutting-edge research. It enables cloe interaction among the important players in this field and provides an occasion for identifying research and business opportunities and for establishing collaborations and partnerships. By keeping abreast of the papers presented at this event, it is possible to identify trends and have current information on the latest developments in the thermal spray field. This special issue of Journal of Thermal Spray Technology (JTST) features a selection of papers presented at the International Thermal Spray Conference 2007 (ITSC 2007) held in Beijing, China, 14-16 May 2007. The theme of the conference focused on global coating solutions, a reference to both the broad range of applications where thermal spray coatings are being employed to improve performance and the international scope of activity in the thermal spray field. There are more than 50 articles in this volume drawn from the more than 200 papers in the Proceedings of ITSC 2007 published in CD-ROM format.Authors of the selected articles were invited to submit their papers to JTST where they passed through the full peer review process required for publishing refereed papers. These papers represent a cross section of the full spectrum of subjects coverd at that conference and highlight recent advances in the thermal spray field. We hope the readers find this expanded JTST issue to be a valuable reference source.

The International Thermal Spray Conference is the largest international gathering of this type dedicated to the science and technology of thermal spray. It brings together researchers, engineers, technicians, equipment and powder manufacturers, coating applicators, and end-users from around the world at an annual meeting in cities in Asia, the United States and Europe.The event is organized jointly by the ASM Thermal Spray Society (TSS), the German Welding Society (DVS), and the International Institute of Welding (IIW). The conference serves as a forum for exchanging ideas, discussing challenges, identifying solutions, exhibiting the latest technology and newest equipment, and presenting cutting-edge research. It enables cloe interaction among the important players in this field and provides an occasion for identifying research and business opportunities and for establishing collaborations and partnerships. By keeping abreast of the papers presented at this event, it is possible to identify trends and have current information on the latest developments in the thermal spray field. This special issue of Journal of Thermal Spray Technology (JTST) features a selection of papers presented at the International Thermal Spray Conference 2007 (ITSC 2007) held in Beijing, China, 14-16 May 2007. The theme of the conference focused on global coating solutions, a reference to both the broad range of applications where thermal spray coatings are being employed to improve performance and the international scope of activity in the thermal spray field. There are more than 50 articles in this volume drawn from the more than 200 papers in the Proceedings of ITSC 2007 published in CD-ROM format. Authors of the selected articles were invited to submit their papers to JTST where they passed through the full peer review process required for publishing refereed papers. These papers represent a cross section of the full spectrum of subjects coverd at that conference and highlight recent advances in the thermal spray field. We hope the readers find this expanded JTST issue to be a valuable reference source.

This book provides readers with the fundamentals necessary for understanding thermal spray technology. Coverage includes in-depth discussions of various thermal spray processes, feedstock materials, particle-jet interactions, and associated yet very critical topics: diagnostics, current and emerging applications, surface science, and pre and post-treatment. This book will serve as an invaluable resource as a textbook for graduate courses in the field and as an exhaustive reference for professionals involved in thermal spray technology.

This book focuses on the current state of the art of the novel cold spray process. Cold spray is a solid state metal consolidation process, which allows engineers to tailor surface and shape properties by optimizing process parameters, powder characteristics and substrate conditions for a wide variety of applications that are difficult or impossible by other techniques. Readers will benefit from this book's coverage of the commercial evolution of cold spray since the 1980's and will gain a practical understanding of what the technology has to offer.

Discovered almost fifty years ago at Bell Labs (1964), the Nd:YAG laser has undergone an enormous evolution in the years, being now widely used in both basic research and technological applications. Nd:YAG Laser covers a wide range of topics, from new systems (diode pumping, short pulse generation) and components (a new semiorganic nonlinear crystal) to applications in material processing (coating, welding, polishing, drilling, processing of metallic thin films), medicine (treatment, drug administration) and other various fields (semiconductor nanotechnology, plasma spectroscopy, laser induced breakdown spectroscopy).

The growing use of light alloys in industries such as aerospace, sports equipment and biomedical devices is driving research into surface engineering technologies to enhance their properties for the desired end use. Surface engineering of light alloys: Aluminium, magnesium and titanium alloys provides a comprehensive review of the latest technologies for modifying the surfaces of light alloys to improve their corrosion, wear and tribological properties. Part one discusses surface degradation of light alloys with chapters on corrosion behaviour of magnesium alloys and protection techniques, wear properties of aluminium-based alloys and tribological behaviour of titanium alloys. Part two reviews surface engineering technologies for light alloys including anodising, plasma electrolytic oxidation, thermal spraying, cold spraying, physical vapour deposition, plasma assisted surface treatment, PIII/PSII treatments, laser surface modification, ceramic conversion and duplex treatments. Part three covers applications for surface engineered light alloys including sports equipment, biomedical devices and plasma electrolytic oxidation and anodised aluminium alloys for spacecraft applications. With its distinguished editor and international team of contributors, Surface engineering of light alloys: Aluminium, magnesium and titanium alloys is a standard reference for engineers, metallurgists and materials scientists looking for a comprehensive source of information on surface engineering of aluminium, magnesium and titanium alloys. Discusses surface degradation of light alloys considering corrosion behaviour and wear and tribological properties Examines surface engineering technologies and modification featuring plasma electrolytic oxidation treatments and both thermal and cold spraying Reviews applications for engineered light alloys in sports equipment, biomedical devices and spacecraft