ABSTRACT
Electron beam (EB) processes, despite a long history, are still widely used in the industry. Welding processes are one of the main applications of EB processes, implemented in the following areas: automotive engineering, electronics, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, and mechanical engineering industries. The electron beam provided the highest quality of welded joints in all metals. Thus, despite laser and arc welding processes, EB processes are still popular. The concentrated beam of electrons can also be used for the production of coatings by deposition, surface modification, as well as additive layer manufacturing. In the chapter, the idea of additive manufacturing and technological parameters are presented and discussed. Other surface modification techniques such as cladding, alloying, hardening, and texturing are also presented. The examples presented in this chapter are selective. It could be concluded that the overall state of research on EB application in additive manufacturing and surface engineering has demonstrated numerous applications of EB in surface materials processing all over the world.
