Excimer laser surface modification: Process and properties

Conference · Tue Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1991

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-279-665· OSTI ID:7140402

Jervis, T R; Nastasi, M ^[1]; Hirvonen, J P ^[2]

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1. Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
2. Technical Research Institute, Espoo (Finland). Metallurgy Lab.

Surface modification can improve materials for structural, tribological, and corrosion applications. Excimer laser light has been shown to provide a rapid means of modifying surfaces through heat treating, surface zone refining, and mixing. Laser pulses at modest power levels can easily melt the surfaces of many materials. Mixing within the molten layer or with the gas ambient may occur, if thermodynamically allowed, followed by rapid solidification. The high temperatures allow the system to overcome kinetic barriers found in some ion mixing experiments. Alternatively, surface zone refinement may result from repeated melting-solidification cycles. Ultraviolet laser light couples energy efficiently to the surface of metallic and ceramic materials. The nature of the modification that follows depends on the properties of the surface and substrate materials. Alloying from both gas and predeposited layer sources has been observed in metals, semiconductors, and ceramics as has surface enrichment of Cr by zone refinement of stainless steel. Rapid solidification after melting often results in the formation of nonequilibrium phases, including amorphous materials. Improved surface properties, including tribology and corrosion resistance, are observed in these materials.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 7140402
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-92-3406; CONF-9211127--1; ON: DE93003726
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360104 -- Metals & Alloys-- Physical Properties
360106* -- Metals & Alloys-- Radiation Effects
360204 -- Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories-- Physical Properties
360206 -- Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories-- Radiation Effects
ALLOYS
ALUMINIUM
ALUMINIUM ALLOYS
AUSTENITIC STEELS
CARBIDES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CERAMICS
CHROMIUM ALLOYS
CHROMIUM-NICKEL STEELS
CORROSION RESISTANCE
CORROSION RESISTANT ALLOYS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
EXCIMER LASERS
GAS LASERS
HEAT RESISTANT MATERIALS
HEAT RESISTING ALLOYS
HIGH ALLOY STEELS
ION IMPLANTATION
IRON
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
LASER RADIATION
LASERS
MATERIALS
METALS
NICKEL ALLOYS
NIOBIUM
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PERFORMANCE
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
REFLECTIVITY
SEMIMETALS
SILICON
SILICON CARBIDES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
STAINLESS STEEL-304
STAINLESS STEELS
STEEL-CR19NI10
STEELS
SURFACE PROPERTIES
SURFACES
TITANIUM
TITANIUM ALLOYS
TITANIUM BASE ALLOYS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
TRIBOLOGY
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
VANADIUM ALLOYS