Team MAST has been delivering the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MOD’s) low to medium maturity materials and structures research since November 2007. This article presents case studies from that work - coatings to lower solar heat absorption, self healing of fibre-reinforced polymer composites and integrated damage resistance in composite structures.

Warfare is moving to the nanoscale to defend soldiers against modern chemical and biological weapons. This article describes Swedish developments.

Describing the methods used to produce deformed layers that give alloys differing surface properties.

During 2007, the UK’s Materials Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) carried out technology roadmapping analysis to identify opportunities for particulate materials/products to make a significant contribution to satisfying the future performance needs of power generation plant. This article looks at the surface engineering challenges presented by future systems of energy generation.

This item describes the benefits of surface engineering in alternative energy power stations considering recent tests and looking at the future of such plant.

Stress corrosion cracking is difficult to study and forecast. Reliable prediction of crack nucleation and hence the likelihood of achieving a certain lifetime remains a challenge. Researchers at The University of Manchester School of Materials, UK, are taking a multiscale approach to solving this problem, looking at corrosion/oxidation processing, residual stress, deformation, damage and crack development.

A new composite hardfacing coating for extreme environments has been developed for the energy sector.

Professor Rachel Thomson of the Department of Materials at Loughborough University, UK, describes methodologies for the prediction of power plant lifetimes.

Eddie López-Honorato and Ping Xiao from the School of Materials at The University of Manchester, UK, describe how surface engineering developments can help nuclear energy generation.