The latest issue of the journal Tribology: Materials, Surfaces & Interfaces presents a selection of papers on the theme of nanotechnology. Edited by Professor Dr Ing Wilfried Bartz (Technische Akademie Esslingen, Germany) and Professor Anne Neville and Dr Tomasz Liskiewicz (University of Leeds, UK), the issue comprises contributions on the tribological behaviour of nanostructured materials and thin films, including interaction with lubricants, and mechanical and surface characterisation at the micro- and nano-scale.

Nanotechnology has been extensively studied over the past five decades; however, many challenges still remain. Progress in the efforts to tackle some of these challenges was presented during the 3rd Viennano International Conference on ‘Nanotechnology’: Viennano’09, which was held in Vienna, Austria on 18–20 March 2009. The papers published in this special issue of Tribology: Materials, Surfaces & Interfaces (December 2009, Vol. 3, No. 4) were invited from the nanotribology related sessions of the meeting, on the basis of oral presentations. Selected authors were invited to contribute full versions of their paper for peer review and the resulting eight papers cover diverse aspects of nanotribology, which reflects the range of subjects presented at the conference.

The ‘Nanotechnology’ special issue features, amongst others, papers on small scale mechanical measurements; an investigation into lubrication processes and lubricant additives; and material design aspects of coatings for gold–yttrium and gold–nickel based nanocomposites. Applications covered include artificial joints and automotive braking systems.

The introductory editorial by Wilfried Bartz (the Chair of Viennano’09), Anne Neville and Tomasz Liskiewicz is available to view online for free and gives a full list of contents for the special issue.

Edited by Professor Anne Neville from the University of Leeds, UK, Tribology: Materials, Surfaces & Interfaces publishes original research on the central themes of tribochemistry, tribocorrosion and tribophysics, aiming to meet the needs of both academia and industry. For further information, including how to submit to the journal, visit the journal homepage. For the latest content, sign up for journal TOC alerts.

Maney Publishing is an independent publishing company specialising in academic journals in materials science and engineering, the humanities, and health science. Based in the UK and USA, Maney is the official publisher for the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3).

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Further information
Contact Naomi Asantewa-Sechereh, Maney Publishing, tel: +44 (0)207 451 7308.