Discusses fabrication, characterization, and applications in the field of hard coatings and wear-resistant surfaces. Offers an explanation of commercially oriented deposition technology, from traditional vacuum-based thin-film techniques such as evaporation, sputter deposition, and chemical vapor deposition, to various thermal spraying methods. Readers also get a detailed technical introduction to the science of characterizing and measuring hard coatings - showing the physical properties of these films and composites as well as the underlying structure of the material. Two chapters explore techniques used to evaluate hardness, adhesion, friction, wear, and stress, as well as key tribological properties.