Surface Structuring by Pulsed Laser Implantation
Micrometric surface topologies are required for a wide range of technical applications. While lowered surface features have been used for many years to improve the tribological behavior of contacting surfaces, there are also other fields of application, where the potential of elevated surface features is known, e. g. for metal forming tools. However, the demand for a high wear resistance of these structures often inhibits an industrial application. A solution is offered by structuring techniques that use additional material. A promising approach is the localized dispersing of hard ceramic particles by pulsed laser radiation, the so-called laser implantation. This paper describes the potential to adjust the geometry as well as the mechanical properties of laser implanted surfaces by means of microstructural and topological investigations. Afterwards, results of a wear test are given and different applications for this structuring technique are discussed. It can be shown that dome-shaped or ring-shaped structures on a micrometric scale can be produced with high hardness and wear resistance.