Cover Picture Adv. Eng. Mater. 11/2006

Abstract The cover shows examples of materials research and engineering activities at the Montanuniversität Leoben which are featured in this special issue. The background shows dislocation in an intermetallic titanium aluminide alloy. More details about titanium aluminides are reported by Dehm et al. (page 1052), Stark et al. (page 1087) and Schaden et al. (page 1125). The insert in the center displays the main entrance of the Montanuniversität. The insert on left hand side shows a local strain field around the crack tip in a metal matrix composite with SiC particles (see article by Kolednik, page 1103). The photograph on right hand side depicts a glow discharge in a plasma‐assisted vapour deposition plant (see article by Kutschej et al., page 1141).