We have another wide mix of topics featured in this issue of Transactions.
Structural and morphological characteristics of nanocrystalline copper from acid sulphate electrolytes are discussed by R. Sekar (CECRI, India), and S. Ramalingam and colleagues from Kalasalingam and Pondicherry Universities, India, have studied the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of electrodeposited Cu–ZrO2 nanocomposites.
An electrochemical study on the influence of sodium molybdate on the electrodeposition and phase composition of ternary Zn–Ni–Mo alloy coatings, is described by J. Winiarski et al. (Wroclaw University, Poland).
Plymouth University's R. Sieh, H. R. Le and A. M. Cree report on a statistical study to optimise the process of electrodepositing Ag–PTFE metal matrix composite coatings for threaded connections, from a non-cyanide bath.
The formation of silver nanorod arrays in an anodised aluminium oxide membrane is described by G. Saravanan (Central University of Tamil Nadu, India) and S. Mohan (CECRI).
Two papers are included by F. C. Walsh and colleagues from Southampton University, the first being the second part of a review of the formation of nanostructured surfaces by electrochemical techniques, giving examples by plating and anodising with their applications (part 1 was published in the July 2015 issue of Transactions). The group's second contribution is a review of the electrodeposition of nanocrystalline cobalt-nickel-phosphorus alloy coatings, the last in a trilogy published in this journal describing nanocrystalline nickel and cobalt plating.
An account is given by Martin Goosey of a new six-partner, two-year MacFest project (with funding support from InnovateUK, formerly the Technology Strategy Board) aimed at developing novel solderable finishes that it is hoped will offer all of the benefits of conventional nickel-gold coatings but none of their associated problems.
An important recent June conference is reported by Dan Haspel. This event is the EAST Forum 2015 organised by the pan-European body of that name, held in Lund, Sweden, on progress in functional and sustainable surface technology. Papers from this conference will appear in a separate dedicated issue of Transactions in the near future, and it is hoped that this will lead to closer future links between EAST and the IMF.