Laser drilling of advanced materials: Effects of peak power, pulse format, and wavelength

Journal Article · Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996 · Journal of Laser Applications

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2351/1.4745427· OSTI ID:382839

Chen, X; Lotshaw, W T; Ortiz, A L; Staver, P R; Erikson, C E; McLaughlin, M H ^[1]; Rockstroh, T J ^[2]

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1. General Electric Corporate Research and Development, Schenectady, NY (United States)
2. General Electric Aircraft Engines, Evendale, OH (United States)

The quality of laser-drilled holes is significantly influenced by the laser peak power, pulse format, and wavelength. Three advanced materials are used to demonstrate the importance of choosing the correct laser parameters for a specific material. The materials are: (1) intermetallic single crystal nickel aluminide (NiAl) alloy; (2) N5, a single crystal nickel-based superalloy; and (3) a silicon carbide (SiC) ceramic matrix composite (CMC). The laser peak power is varied in terms of the pulse duration and format. For low peak powers, long pulse format (pulse lengths on the order of ms), conventional and also shaped-pulse (burst) commercial rod Nd:YAG laser systems were used. For high peak powers, a short pulse format was adopted for the laser used, namely a cw-pumped Q-switched or mode locked/Q-switched Nd:YAG oscillator followed by a cw-pumped multipass amplifier using a face-pumped, total internal reflection Nd:YAG slab as the gain medium. Finally, a KrF excimer laser operating at a 248 nm wavelength was used. The excimer wavelength was chosen to be close to the Nd:YAG fourth harmonic.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 382839
• Journal Information: Journal of Laser Applications, Vol. 8, Issue 5; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1996
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
NICKEL ALLOYS
LASER DRILLING
ALUMINIUM ALLOYS
HEAT RESISTING ALLOYS
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
SILICON CARBIDES
NEODYMIUM LASERS
OPERATION
KRYPTON FLUORIDE LASERS
INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
FERRITE GARNETS
YTTRIUM COMPOUNDS
MODE LOCKING
Q-SWITCHING
MACHINE TOOLS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA