Following the successful trend since the 1st China International Conference on Surface Engineering (C-ICSE) held in Shanghai in 1997, the 6th C-ICSE was held from May 10th to 12th, 2011, in Xi’an, China. The C-ICSE 2011 is co-hosted by the Surface Engineering Sub-Society of the Chinese Mechanical Engineering Society (CMES) and for the first time by the International Federation for Heat Treatment and Surface Engineering (IFHTSE), organized by Xi’an Jiaotong University. This conference was to provide a forum for reviewing the latest advances in surface engineering, and discussing the challenges and opportunities of the years to come. The conference mainly focused on academic exchange, industry applications, as well as future development in the field of surface engineering. More than 200 experts, scholars, technicians and younger researchers both in abroad and China who are engaged in surface engineering have attended the conference.

Prof. Xue Qunji，Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering attended the conference and made the keynote lecture entitled Fabrication and tribological performance of micro/nano-textured lubricant films. In his report, the applications fields and research background of surface texturing were introduced firstly, the recent progress and current status of surface texturing on improving tribological performances of surfaces were summarized, he also explained in detail many novel concepts including fabrication of micro/nano-texture, regular texture and bionic texture on hard film, soft film and composite films. Finally, the problems existed on surface texturing were pointed out and he suggested that more efforts should be made to what in the future.

Prof. Chen Jianmin, Director of the Surface Engineering Division in NIMTE made the invited report entitled Superlubricative diamond-like carbon nanocomposite films for space application. Headed by Prof. Xue and Prof. Chen, NIMTE’s delegation consisting of over 10 research personnel and postgraduates, has attended the grand gathering. C-ICSE is a very important academic activity for the researchers in the field of material and mechanical engineering. This event is also an opportunity for the surface engineering community to exchange ideas and information, meet and make friends, and conduct business in a paralleled international exhibition. (Zhao Wenjie Reports)