IFHTSE Fellowship for Bojan Podgornik

In the last 30 years, Prof. Podgornik has dedicated his research work to heat treatment and surface engineering of machine components and forming tools, with an emphasis on the concept of fracture mechanics and the importance of the substrate on the coatings performance. Based on the understanding of coatings, surface layers and wear mechanisms, microstructure and properties of the substrate, he determined the most influential parameters, interactions between the substrate, surface and work material, and the potential of different surface engineering methods in improving performance of contact surfaces, especially forming tools. By developing new testing methods and approaches, explaining effect and mechanisms of the microstructural elements and introducing the concept of fracture mechanics and critical defect size, Prof. Podgornik provided considerable knowledge crucial for the understanding and development of new materials and methods of surface engineering.
With his scientific research work, which is reflected in 50 invited lectures, chapters in scientific books on surface engineering, heat treatment and tribology and more than 200 scientific articles, Prof. Podgornik contributed new findings and knowledge on heat treatment and surface engineering. Through his international research and collaboration with many companies and research institutions in this field, he has significantly contributed to the understanding of the substrate effect and its importance. In this way, he contributed to the development and implementation of new surface engineering methods and testing techniques. Within the Slovenian Society for Heat Treatment and Surface Engineering and the Slovenian Society for Tribology, he takes care of the promotion and successful application of scientific findings in Slovenian industry as well as of the international recognition and connection of Slovenian researchers with IFHTSE and international associations.
As a member of editorial boards of several international journals and conferences, as well as invited speaker and professor at different universities Prof. Podgornik also contributes to the recognition and international promotion of surface engineering and heat treatment field. He organizes international conferences, notably the 3rd Mediterranean Conference on Heat Treatment and Surface Engineering,in Portorož, Slovenia 2016, and chairs sessions in the field of tribology, heat treatment, surface engineering and characterization at various international conferences (AMPT, MCHTSE, Nordtrib, Tooling, etc.). Prof. Podgornik was the editor of several Journals’ special issues as well as several proceedings of international conferences on heat treatment, surface engineering and tribology. He also successfully transfers his knowledge and experience to the younger generation of researchers and students, acting as a supervisor to Ph.D., M.Sc. and B.Sc. students.