Peter J. Blau, PhD, is currently the co-editor-in-chief of Wear journal and a consultant in tribology. He earned BS and MS degrees in metallurgy and materials science from Lehigh University (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania) and a PhD in metallurgical engineering from The Ohio State University (Columbus). His professional career began as a coinvestigator under NASA’s lunar sample examination program. Since then, he has spent nearly 40 years in basic and applied research and has held positions at the U.S. Air Force Materials Laboratory, the National Institute for Standards and Technology, the U.S. Office of Naval Research, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. A long-standing contributor to the International Conferences on Wear of Materials, he is a past conference chair and editor of several proceedings volumes. In 2011, the Wear of Materials Steering Committee established the Peter J. Blau Best Poster Award to be presented at each conference. Dr. Blau’s work has earned his election as a fellow of three societies: ASM International, ASTM International, and the STLE. He also coholds several patents and R&D 100 Awards. In addition to this book, Dr. Blau has authored or coauthored books on microindentation hardness, friction, and wear. In the early 1990s, he worked with ASM International to develop the first ASM Metals Handbook volume devoted to friction, wear, and lubrication. Since 1979, he has participated in ASTM Committee G02 on Wear and Erosion, serving two terms as its chairman and also as chairman of Subcommittee G02.91 on Terminology. In addition, he has led and participated in the development of four standard test methods. Dr. Blau served as leader of the Tribology Research User Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and as a principal investigator for more than 26 years. Since leaving Oak Ridge National Laboratory in 2013, he has been active in technical editing, writing, and consulting.