1. Surface treatment functions

1.1 The surface

From a geometric point of view, it's the envelope of the object under consideration; it defines its volume.

From the physical point of view, which concerns us here, this envelope is the seat of interactions between the object and its environment. These interactions can be :

• mechanical: for example, various forms of wear can be induced by friction;

• chemical, often the cause of corrosion damage;

• thermal, electrical, optical, etc.

The engineer's task in designing an object is twofold: on the one hand, he or she must satisfy a structural function through the choice of materials and the design of the...