The tribological properties of relatively moving surfaces are greatly influenced by thin surface films, which are of considerable importance in the design of machine components. From Victorian days, when working lubricant films were calculated in tens of micrometres, to today, when molecular dynamics simulations and even experiments are beginning to look at nanometre, single molecule thick films, the study of surfaces which is the tribologists' challenge, has moved to finer and finer scales. The 66 papers in this volume provide reviews across the tribological field, with thin films as their theme, giving a comprehensive and concise description on topics ranging from coatings and surface modification to bio-tribology. The articles provide the reader with an outline of their most effective application and potential uses in new technologies. The volume should be of interest not only to research workers and design engineers in the fields of new machine developments and lubrication, but also to engineers and students specialising in tribology.
