Coatings and surface treatments. Technological approach

In industrial practice, the concept of surface preparation covers a large number of processes or treatment ranges, the aim of which is to give the treated surface either specific physico-chemical properties (composition, inclusionary cleanliness, appearance, wettability, adhesion, etc.), or specific mechanical or geometric properties (roughness, surface stress, tribological characteristics, etc.).

Over the past two or three decades, the coatings and surface treatments (RTS) sector has undergone significant technological change, triggered by new technical and/or regulatory requirements, or by recent industrial developments.

The importance of this sector stems not only from its vast range of applications, but also from its multi-disciplinary nature, involving most scientific and technological fields. By making it possible to design and manufacture new objects, or by improving the durability, quality and reliability of existing products, coatings and surface treatments generate progress and, as such, must be integrated into every development process, right from the earliest design stages of a project.