by Aleksander Lisiecki (Guest Editor)
The book covers very important issues, not only scientific in nature but, ultimately, for industry and the economy. Wear and deterioration of surface properties during operation is a natural and unavoidable phenomenon. However, minimizing the degree of wear is of great importance for the entire economy, as illustrated by the example of the US economy, for which the loss of natural resources as a direct cause of friction and wear exceeds 6% of the Gross National Product. This book showcases the valuable knowledge revealed from both theoretical and practical research results in the field of advanced technologies of coatings and surface modification, as well as wear and tribological characteristics of advanced materials and surface layers. Therefore, it is hoped that this book will be a valuable resource and helpful tool for scientists, engineers, and students in the field of surface engineering, materials science, and manufacturing engineering.