Laser Processing of Diffusion Boronized Layer Produced on Monel® Alloy 400—Microstructure, Microhardness, Corrosion and Wear Resistance Tests

The paper presents the results of studies of microstructure, mechanical and physicochemical properties of surface layers produced by laser modification of the diffusion boron layer on Monel® Alloy 400. The diffusion boron layers were produced at 950 °C for 6 h. The gas-contact method was used in an open retort furnace. The process was carried out in a powder mixture containing B4C carbide as a boron source. The next stage was the modification of the boron layer with a diode laser beam of a nominal power of 3 kW. A constant power of 1400 W of the laser beam was used. The scanning speed was variable (successively 5 m/min, 25 m/min, 50 m/min). In order to determine the best parameters, single tracks were created, after which multiple tracks were prepared using previously selected parameters. It was found that both the diffusion borided layer and the laser modified layer had better properties than the substrate material. Both these processes contributed to an increase in corrosion resistance, hardness and wear resistance. It was also found that laser modification caused a slight deterioration of the properties in comparison with the diffusion borided layer. However, the laser modification process resulted in the production of a much thicker layer.

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Laser Surface-Treated Ti13Nb13Zr Alloy with MWCNTs Coatings

Laser surface modification of titanium alloys is one of the main methods of improving the properties of titanium alloys used in implantology. This study investigates the microstructural morphology of a laser-modified surface layer on a Ti13Nb13Zr alloy with and without a carbon nanotube coating deposited by electrophoretic deposition. Laser modification was performed for samples with and without carbon nanotube coating for two different laser powers of 800 W and 900 W and for different scan rates: 3 mm/s or 6 mm/s at 25 Hz, and the pulse duration was 2.25 ms or 3.25 ms. A scanning electron microscope SEM was used to evaluate the surface structure of the modified samples. To observe the heat-affected zones of the individual samples, metallographic samples were taken and observed under an optical microscope. Surface wettability tests were performed using a goniometer. A surface roughness test using a profilograph and a nanoindentation test by NanoTest™ Vantage was also performed. Observations of the microstructure allowed to state that for higher laser powers the surfaces of the samples are more homogeneous without defects, while for lower laser powers the path of the laser beam is clearer and more regular. Examination of the microstructure of the cross-sections indicated that the samples on which the carbon nanotube coating was deposited are characterized by a wider heat affected zone, and for the samples modified at 800 W and a feed rate of 3 mm/s the widest heat affected zone is observed. The wettability tests revealed that all the samples exhibit hydrophilic surfaces and the samples with deposited carbon nanotube coating increase it further. Surface roughness testing showed a significant increase in Ra for the laser-modified samples, and the presence of carbon nanotubes further increased this value. Nanoindentation studies showed that the laser modification and the presence of carbon coating improved the mechanical properties of the samples due to their strength.

Investigation of the effect of laser surface modification on the hardness and wear resistance of a titanium alloy

The effect of laser modification of the surface on the value of the coefficient of elasticity, hardness, coefficient of friction and the amount of wear of the counter body when testing products made of a deformable titanium alloy was investigated. It was found that the indicators of hardness and wear resistance of a titanium alloy depend on the modes of laser modification. These dependencies are extreme in nature, they have maxima and minima. The quantitative values of hardness and wear resistance indicators for the specified material before and after laser treatment of its surface in various modes are given.

Mechanical Properties and Residual Stress Measurements of Grade IV Titanium and Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-13Nb-13Zr Titanium Alloys after Laser Treatment

Nowadays, surface engineering focuses on research into materials for medical applications. Titanium and its alloys are prominent, especially Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-13Nb-13Zr. Samples made of pure grade IV titanium and the titanium alloys Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-13Nb-13Zr were modified via laser treatment with laser beam frequency f = 25 Hz and laser beam power P = 1000 W during a laser pulse with duration t = 1 ms. Subsequently, to analyze the properties of the obtained surface layers, the following tests were performed: scanning electron microscopy, chemical and phase composition analysis, wetting angle tests and roughness tests. The assessment of the impact of the laser modification on the internal stresses of the investigated materials was carried out by comparing the values of the stresses of the laser-modified samples to those of the reference samples. The obtained results showed increased values of tensile stresses after laser modification: the highest value was found for the Ti-6Al-4V alloy at 6.7434 GPa and the lowest for pure grade IV titanium at 3.742 GPa. After laser and heat treatment, a reduction in the stress was observed, together with a significant increase in the hardness of the tested materials, with the highest value for Ti-6Al-4V alloy at 27.723 GPa. This can provide better abrasion resistance and lower long-term toxicity, both of which are desirable when using Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-13Nb-13Zr alloys for implant materials.