Features of Brass Processing with Powerful Ultraviolet Lasers of Nanosecond Duration

We investigated the process of laser heat treatment of polished brass samples (36% zinc, containing a small amount of lead, which does not dissolve in the alloy and is in the form of inclusions, having micron and submicron size) by impacting to a series of 25 - 30 ultraviolet (UV) pulses of a Nd:YAG laser (third harmonic, wavelength λ = 355 nm, duration τ = 10 ns, pulse repetition rate f = 10 Hz, pulse energy density ~ 0.15 - 1.0 J/cm2) in the stationary spot mode. Copper and its alloys absorb up to 90% of the energy of this laser. It is found that the relaxation of the absorbed energy of laser radiation in the metal occurs nonuniformly. Defects in the metal structure such as grain boundaries and lead inclusions are visualized. Traces of crystallographic sliding appear inside some grains. With an increase in the number of impacting impulses, accumulation of damage is observed. A further increase in the radiation energy density leads to an aggravation of the observed phenomena.

Increasing wear and corrosion resistance of steel products by combined laser thermomechanical treatment

A technique is presented for hardening metal products, in particular, the main tools (hammers) and cases of core drilling bits made of steel 30HGSA, using thermomechanical surface treatment according to a separate scheme. The method of combined laser thermomechanical hardening used in the study consists in the use of shot peening followed by laser heat treatment. Its use makes it possible to increase the operational properties of steel products, in particular, their wear and corrosion resistance. Based on the results of theoretical and experimental studies, the paper substantiates the features of dynamic surface plastic deformation for the analysis of impact during shot peening. The advantages of using laser hardening without surface melting are presented. Experimental research methods are proposed for determining the structural-phase composition, structure of the surface layer, hardness and microhardness of the hardened zones of steel 30HGSA. The range of rational modes of impact shot peening and thermal laser treatment has been determined. A device for testing samples for wear resistance has been developed. Methods of testing for wear and corrosion resistance of the surface of samples are proposed for assessing the tribological properties and contact interaction of materials under quasi-static and dynamic loading conditions. It is concluded that rational technological modes of hardening tools made of steel 30HGSA using combined laser thermomechanical treatment allow increasing the depth of the hardened layer by ~1.5 times compared to laser heat treatment. In addition, they provide the microhardness of the surface layer of ~5400 MPa, which is ~2.5 times higher than the microhardness of the base material

New Opportunities to Determine the Rate of Wear of Materials at Friction by the Indentation Data

The article is concerned with the determination of physical plasticity δH (the ratio of the plastic strain to the total strain) and yield stress σS by indentation and the application of these characteristics for analysis of the wear rate W during the friction. The experimental part of the work is performed on the AISI O2 and AISI D2 steels, the surface layers of which were hardened by combined thermomechanical treatment consisted of sequential use of laser heat treatment and ultrasonic impact treatment. For the metals, W is shown to be proportional to δH and inversely proportional to σS. The general scheme for the dependence of W on δH is proposed and based on experimental results for tool steels and hard alloys. For the steels, whose wear is caused by the plastic deformation, W increases with increasing δH, and it decreases conversely for hard alloys worn predominantly by the fracture mechanism. The use of physical plasticity δH and yield stress σS, which are calculated using the hardness and Young’s modulus, characterizes both the hardening extent and the wear rate of the surface layers in more full measure and more accurately than the hardness magnitude itself.

Mechanical Properties of Metal Coating Layers after Laser Heat

The goal of this research is to study the influence of the laser heat treatment on wearing resistance of metal coating layers. Results reveal the influence of microstructures and chemical composition of used electrodes on microhardness and wear resistance of metal coating layers. Laser heat treatment was applied after coating. Evaluation of results was made by observing the microstructures with metallographic microscopy, SEM/EDX and the mechanical properties were obtained by microhardness and wear resistance.

Effect of Laser Heat-Treatment and Laser Nitriding on the Microstructural Evolutions and Wear Behaviors of AISI P21 Mold Steel

Laser heat-treatment and laser nitriding were conducted on an AISI P21 mold steel using a high-power diode laser with laser energy densities of 90 and 1125 J/mm2, respectively. No change in surface hardness was observed after laser heat-treatment. In contrast, a relatively larger surface hardness was measured after laser nitriding (i.e., 536 HV) compared with that of the base metal (i.e., 409 HV). The TEM and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) analyses revealed that laser nitriding induced to develop AlN precipitates up to a depth of 15 μm from the surface, resulting in surface hardening. The laser-nitrided P21 exhibited a superior wear resistance compared with that of the base metal and laser heat-treated P21 in the pin-on-disk tribotests. After 100 m of a sliding distance of the pin-on-disk test, the total wear loss of the base metal was measured to be 0.74 mm3, and it decreased to 0.60 mm3 for the laser-nitrided P21. The base metal and laser heat-treated P21 showed similar wear behaviors. The larger wear resistance of the laser-nitrided P21 was attributed to the AlN precipitate-induced surface hardening.

The effectiveness of laser treatment

Laser heat treatment and laser alloying are new surface hardening processes. The efficiency of laser surface treatment is due to the high energy flux density, locality of impact, and the possibility of contactless energy transfer to the processing area. As a result of Laser heat treatment and laser alloying, metals and alloys acquire high physical and mechanical properties in local volumes that are unattainable with traditional methods of hardening. Laser heat treatment and laser alloying are most widely used for parts that work under conditions of sliding friction, abrasive and erosive wear. At present, the principal possibility is shown and the technological basis for laser heat treatment and surface alloying of most steels is formulated.