Maria Richert

Surface engineering is distinguished from the broader field of materials science by its specific research scope, focused on protecting, improving the quality, or enhancing the durability of surface and near-surface structures

Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues is a peer-reviewed journal which publishes original research papers and case studies

Additive manufacturing is a technology that creates objects by adding successive layers of material. The 3D method is an alternative to subtractive production, in which production involves removing material from the initial solid. 3D printing requires the initial design of the manufactured object using computer design, for example, one of the following programs: CAD, 3DCrafter, Wings 3D, Cinema 3, Blender, 3ds Max, Autodesk Inventor, and others. It is also possible to scan an existing object to be manufactured using 3D printing technology. An important element of Industry 5.0 is 3D printing technology, due to its favorable environmental orientation and production flexibility. Three-dimensional printing technology uses recycled materials such as powders. Therefore, it can be part of a circular economy, contributing to environmental protection. Additive manufacturing not only complements existing technologies by enabling rapid prototyping but also plays a fundamental role in sectors such as dentistry and medicine. This article consists of seven chapters relating to various aspects of 3D printing technology in the context of the assumptions and challenges of Industry 5.0. It examines the environmental impact and recycling potential of 3D printing technology, illustrates the economic integration of this technology within various industries, and discusses its future development prospects.

Surface engineering is one of the most extensive industries. Virtually all areas of the economy benefit from the achievements of surface engineering. Surface quality affects the quality of finished products as well as the quality of manufactured parts. It affects both functional qualities and esthetics. Surface quality affects the image and reputation of a brand. This is particularly true for cars and household appliances. Surface modification of products is also aimed at improving their functional and protective properties. This applies to surfaces for producing hydrophobic surfaces, anti-wear protection of friction pairs, corrosion protection, and others. Metal technologies and 3D printing benefit from surface technologies that improve their functionality and facilitate the operation of products. Surface engineering offers a range of different coating and layering methods from varnishing and painting to sophisticated nanometric coatings. This paper presents an overview of selected surface engineering issues pertaining to metal products, with a particular focus on surface modification of products manufactured by 3D printing technology. It evaluates the impact of the surface quality of products on their functional and performance qualities.

This paper presents a study on thermally sprayed coatings. Coatings produced by high-velocity oxygen–fuel spraying HVOF and plasma spraying deposited on the A03590 aluminum casting alloy are tested. The subject of this research concerns coatings based on tungsten carbide WC, chromium carbide Cr₃C₂, composite coatings NiCrSiB + 2.5%Fe + 2.5%Cr, mixtures of tungsten and chromium powders WC-CrC-Ni, mixtures of carbide powders with the Cr₃C₂-NiCr + the composite 5% NiCrBSi and WC-Co + 5% NiCrBSi. The aim of this research is to find a coating most resistant to the erosive impact of particles contained in the medium centrifuged by industrial rotors. The suitability of the coating is determined by its high level of microhardness. The hardest coatings are selected from the coatings tested and subjected to abrasion tests against a sand particle impact jet and the centrifugation of a medium with corundum particles. It is found that the most favorable anti-erosion properties are demonstrated by a coating composed of a mixture of tungsten carbide and chromium carbide WC-CrC-Ni powders. It is concluded that the greatest resistance of this coating to the erosive impact of the particle jet results from the synergistic enhancement of the most favorable features of both cermets.

Hafnidar A. Rani [https://www.qeios.com/profile/78512], Jurisman Amin [https://www.qeios.com/profile/80024], Ridha Syuhada [https://www.qeios.com/profile/80025], Muhammad Hafidz Mubarak [https://www.qeios.com/profile/80026], et al. (2024). Enhancing...

Metals in the automotive industry are the basis of production. Due to the transformation of the automotive industry towards electromobility, the demand for materials defined as critical is increasing. Critical materials include, among others: iridium (Ir), cobalt (Co), neodymium (Nd), dysprosium (Dy), gallium (Ga), terbium (Tb), graphite and platinum (Pt). The article characterizes critical materials, with particular attention paid to rare earth metals, without which the production of modern cars would be impossible. Obtaining this group of materials is associated with supply problems, lack of diversification of supplies and unclear impact of their production technology on the environment, due to the location of the industry in poorly controlled regions where compliance with ecological principles is questionable. The article is a review of data taken from studies, reports and articles regarding critical materials in the automotive industry. It addresses the most important problems related to the extraction and production of this group of metals, prices, the impact of their production on the environment and their use in cars.

The work presents selected material issues related to the development of modern motorization. The advantages and threats of obtaining key materials for the automotive industry were analyzed. Aspiration to radically reduce CO2 emissions sets the main trend in the automotive industry focused on the production of electric cars. The production of electric cars is closely related to the development of innovative battery production technologies using such critical elements as lithium, magnesium, nickel, cobalt, and graphite. Their acquisition and production of components is concentrated in several countries around the world, including China, which is their main supplier. The lack of diversification of supplies and the huge expected increase in demand for these materials, resulting from the exponential growth in the production of electric cars, pose threats to supply chains. One of the solutions is the development of effective technologies for battery recycling. There is a risk of losing many jobs as a result of changes in the automotive market and the withdrawal of classic cars from production. Taking into account the scope, pace, and changes resulting from changes in the automotive industry, in particular in the field of materials, one should expect their global impact on the economy.

This article is a synthetic, brief review of the literature, reports and references on the transformation of the automotive industry into zero-emission cars, in particular electric cars. It analyzes the technological and economic aspects of changes in the automotive industry regarding the transformation to zero-emission cars. Despite great de-emission parameters, the production of electric cars does not have a zero carbon footprint. The acquisition of critical elements, their production and the production of other components and materials needed for their construction have an environmental impact. The supply chains of materials for the construction of batteries for electric cars are characterized by significant risks related to, among others, a lack of diversification and limited flexibility. The dominant supplier of rare elements for batteries is China. The article analyzes the impact of prices on the demand for electric cars and compares them to internal combustion cars. Research shows that most electric cars are sold in China, the USA and Europe (about 95% of the supply). The costs of cars are of great importance, which, given the current reduction in the purchasing power of consumers, make the forecasts of the dynamic growth of electromobility very cautious, and even stagnation in the purchase of electric cars is expected in the second half of 2023.

This study aimed to analyze the impact of key causes of external and internal risk on supply chains. The basic and most probable causes of the risk are listed, based on literature research and interviews with representatives of the metal industry. The analysis was carried out by semiquantitative assessment using risk maps. The relationship between the probability of an event occurrence and its impact on supply chains was tested. The study postulates that key risk factors can be controlled through risk monitoring. Attention was drawn to the beneficial aspects of using risk maps that enable a comprehensive assessment of the situation. Both external and internal risks can cause turmoil and disruption of the supply chain. The findings suggest that external uncertainty and crises have the most direct impact on supply chain risk and are the most dangerous. The work presents the possibility of practical application of risk maps for risk assessment and monitoring. The presented approach to risk assessment complements the methodology of risk assessment and monitoring. Risk maps were used as a basic tool in assessing the impact of individual risks on supply chains. It has been found that supply chains are subject to high risk, which can be monitored through risk matrix procedures. The conducted analysis showed that critical risk areas in supply chains are external crises, environmental uncertainty, supply chain relationships, and manufacturing and the most dangerous risks in supply chains are related to external conditions beyond the control of the participants in the supply chain. The article fills a gap in research on risk monitoring in supply chains by focusing on selected, generalized measures related to industrial supply.