Laser Surface Modification of Metallic Materials

A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412). This special issue belongs to the section "Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2021) | Viewed by 17335

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
School of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Design, University of Cadiz. Adv. Universidad de Cadiz 10, E11519 Puerto Real, Spain
Interests: tribology; surface modification; mechanical behavior of materials; surface characterization; laser surface texturing; metrology; machining; manufacturing processes
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E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Design, University of Cadiz. Adv. Universidad de Cadiz 10, E11519 Puerto Real, Spain
Interests: abrasive waterjet; surface quality; hybrid structure; surface texturing; machining; geometric defects
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Currently a high percentage of metallic materials used in strategic areas, such as the aerospace, energy or biomedical industry, are subject to surface modification procedures in order to adapt the initial properties to specific work conditions and improve the performance of the processes where the manufactured parts are involved. Surface texturing techniques used for the modification of the features and mechanical behavior of manufactured elements allows to overcome limitations and improve the properties of the external layers without affecting the remaining material. In this aspect, by laser surface processing methods, specific topographies or microstructural modifications can be developed that can give rise to variations in the initial characteristics of the treated material. In the case of texturized processes on metallic materials, mainly due to the homogeneity of the layers, better results can be obtained, in terms of uniformity and repeatability of the modified layer than in other types of materials such as composites. The ability to generate microgeometries with dimensions and shape adapted to specific applications is widely related to wettability behavior. Therefore, by developing laser surface treatments, hydrophobic and hydrophilic tendencies can be induced on a wide variety of materials. On the other hand, the modification of the microstructure is generally associated with variations in mechanical properties such as hardness or wear resistance under tribological conditions. Additionally, if control is maintained over the laser treatment atmosphere, the appearance of layers with compositional changes becomes possible, giving rise to oxidation or nitriding process, among others. This Special Issue is mainly focused on research lines in the field of laser surface texturing on metallic materials. In this special edition, high interest is maintained on research articles dedicated to improving the performance of texturing processes and their use in specific applications. The improvement of surface conditions and the characterization procedures of the modified layer are very interesting aspects for publication in this issue.

Dr. Juan Manuel Vazquez Martinez
Prof. Dr. Jorge Salguero Gomez
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • laser texturing
  • surface modification
  • wetting behavior
  • surface finish
  • surface characterization
  • wear resistance treatment
  • corrosion resistance surface treatment
  • tribological applications.

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 8062 KiB  
Article
Laser Dissimilar Joining of Al7075T6 with Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Polyamide Composite
by Eneko Ukar, Jon Iñaki Arrizubieta, Mercedes Ferros, Maite Andres and Fernando Liebana
Coatings 2020, 10(2), 96; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings10020096 - 22 Jan 2020
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2169
Abstract
Dissimilar joining between metal and composite sheets is usually carried out by mechanical or adhesive joining. Laser dissimilar joining between metal and composite sheets could be an alternative to these methods, as it is a cost-effective and versatile joining technique. Previously, textured metallic [...] Read more.
Dissimilar joining between metal and composite sheets is usually carried out by mechanical or adhesive joining. Laser dissimilar joining between metal and composite sheets could be an alternative to these methods, as it is a cost-effective and versatile joining technique. Previously, textured metallic and composite parts have been held together and heated with a laser beam while pressure is applied to allow the melted polymer to flow into the cavities of the metal part. The main issue of this process relates to reaching the same joint strength repetitively with appropriate process parameters. In this work, both initial texturing and laser joining parameters are studied for Al 7075-T6 and glass-fiber-reinforced PA6 composite. A groove-based geometry was studied in terms of depth-to-width aspect ratio to find an optimal surface using a nanosecond fiber laser for texturing. Laser joining parameters were also studied with different combinations of surface temperature, heating strategy, pressure, and laser feed rate. The results are relatively good for grooves with aspect ratios from 0.94 to 4.15, with the widths of the grooves being the most critical factor. In terms of joining parameters, surface reference temperature was found to be the most influential parameter. Underheating does not allow correct material flow in textured cavities, while overheating also causes high dispersion in the resulting shear strength. When optimal parameters are applied using correct textures, shear strength values over 26 kN are reached, with a contact area of 35 × 45 mm2. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Laser Surface Modification of Metallic Materials)
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12 pages, 4292 KiB  
Article
Effect of Scanning Speed on the Interface Behavior and Dendrite Growth of Laser Remelted Fe-Based Ni/WC Coatings
by Yuncai Zhao, Li Wang and Wen He
Coatings 2019, 9(10), 677; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings9100677 - 18 Oct 2019
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2293
Abstract
The flame sprayed Fe-based Ni/WC cermet coating was treated by laser remelting. The influence of scanning speeds on the interface behaviour was investigated. SEM, XRD and EDS were used to analyse the microstructure, phase composition and element distribution of the interface. The results [...] Read more.
The flame sprayed Fe-based Ni/WC cermet coating was treated by laser remelting. The influence of scanning speeds on the interface behaviour was investigated. SEM, XRD and EDS were used to analyse the microstructure, phase composition and element distribution of the interface. The results showed that the interface of the coating contained holes and interlayer cracks and showed typical mechanical bonding features. The coatings mainly consisted of [Fe, Ni], Cr, WC, Cr7C3, Fe0.04Ni0.36, and other phases. After laser remelting, the coatings were smooth and dense due to the existence of well-developed dendrite structures and metallurgical bonding and could reach the optimal performance at 200 mm/s. New phases such as Fe2Si, Cr2Si, and W2C appeared in the remelted layers. With the increase of scanning speed, the half-peak height and average grain size became wider and smaller. At the same time, the measured dendrite spacing decreased with increasing scanning speed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Laser Surface Modification of Metallic Materials)
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10 pages, 3634 KiB  
Article
The Corrosion Resistance of Aluminum Alloy Modified by Laser Radiation
by K.M. Mroczkowska, A.J. Antończak and J. Gąsiorek
Coatings 2019, 9(10), 672; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings9100672 - 16 Oct 2019
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3682
Abstract
This study presents an analysis of the impact of the oxide layers, prepared utilizing fiber laser radiation (1062 nm) in ambient air with different process parameters, on the corrosion resistance of EN 5754 aluminum alloy. Due to both high corrosion resistance and high [...] Read more.
This study presents an analysis of the impact of the oxide layers, prepared utilizing fiber laser radiation (1062 nm) in ambient air with different process parameters, on the corrosion resistance of EN 5754 aluminum alloy. Due to both high corrosion resistance and high fatigue strength, a 5754 alloy is used, among others, in the marine, aerospace, automotive, and chemical industries. Nevertheless, it corrodes in aggressive environments (with high chloride ions concentration). The controlled delivery of laser radiation energy in the oxygen environment allows the formation of the oxide layer on the surface of the material. We have determined that it significantly affects the resistance of these materials to corrosion. As a result of laser irradiation, changes in the chemical structure of the surface layer (chemical composition as well as surface development) can be observed. It may exert both a positive and a negative consequence on the corrosion resistance. The electrochemical corrosion tests (potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy EIS) have been carried out in an aggressive environment (3% NaCl). Moreover, microscopic examination, chemical tests, and roughness were also performed. The study revealed that appropriate control of the laser process can significantly increase the original corrosion resistance of the 5754 aluminum alloy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Laser Surface Modification of Metallic Materials)
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12 pages, 7499 KiB  
Article
Nanosecond Pulsed Laser Irradiation of Titanium Alloy Substrate: Effects of Periodic Patterned Topography on the Optical Properties of Colorizing Surfaces
by J.M. Vazquez-Martinez, J. Salguero, E. Blanco and J.M. González-Leal
Coatings 2019, 9(10), 658; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings9100658 - 11 Oct 2019
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2674
Abstract
Most of the current works based on surface treatments of metals by laser marking technology are focused on the modification of the color tonality of flat surfaces, or the development of specific topography features, but the combination of both processes is not usually [...] Read more.
Most of the current works based on surface treatments of metals by laser marking technology are focused on the modification of the color tonality of flat surfaces, or the development of specific topography features, but the combination of both processes is not usually evaluated, mainly due to the complexity of controlling the optical properties on rough surfaces. This research presents an analysis of the influence of the micro-geometrical characteristics of periodic patterned laser tracks on the chromaticity and reflectance of Ti6Al4V substrates. The samples were irradiated with an infrared nanosecond pulsed laser in air atmosphere, taking as the control parameter the scan speed of the beam. A roughness evaluation, microscopic inspection, and absorption and chromaticity examination were conducted. Although micro-crack growth was detected in an isolated case (10 mm/s), the possibility of adjusting the result color was demonstrated by controlling the heat-affected zone thickness of the textures. The results of rough/colored combined textures allow new perspectives in industrial design to open, particularly in aesthetic applications with special properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Laser Surface Modification of Metallic Materials)
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11 pages, 6069 KiB  
Article
Distribution of Al Element of Ti–6Al–4V Joints by Fiber Laser Welding
by Jiajia Zhang, Renzhi Hu, Shengyong Pang and Anguo Huang
Coatings 2019, 9(9), 566; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings9090566 - 05 Sep 2019
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2588
Abstract
In the process of laser welding, the uneven distribution of solute elements caused by element burning loss and flow of molten pool affects the quality of joints. In this paper, butt welding experiments were conducted on the 3 mm thick Ti–6Al–4V specimens with [...] Read more.
In the process of laser welding, the uneven distribution of solute elements caused by element burning loss and flow of molten pool affects the quality of joints. In this paper, butt welding experiments were conducted on the 3 mm thick Ti–6Al–4V specimens with different preset ratios of Al and Si powders by using 4 kW fiber laser. The distribution of Al solute element and its influence on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the final weld joint were investigated. The results showed that the self-diffusion of Al element and the flow of molten pool affects the alloy elements distribution in laser welding. And the microhardness of the welded joint with Ti–6Al–4V and 90% Al + 10% Si powders was significantly higher than that with only Ti–6Al–4V, with the difference of about 130HV. At the same time, in the joint with 90% Al and 10% Si powders, the acicular α’ size was finer, and basketweave microstructure was present as well. This research is helpful to better understand the distribution of Al solute element and its influence on the joint quality during laser welding of Ti–6Al–4V alloy, which provides a certain reference for improving the weld or surface properties of Ti–6Al–4V alloy during laser processing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Laser Surface Modification of Metallic Materials)
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11 pages, 5789 KiB  
Article
TiBCN-Ceramic-Reinforced Ti-Based Coating by Laser Cladding: Analysis of Processing Conditions and Coating Properties
by Yuxin Li, Pengfei Zhang, Peikang Bai, Keqiang Su and Hongwen Su
Coatings 2019, 9(6), 407; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings9060407 - 24 Jun 2019
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2843
Abstract
In this paper, TiBCN-ceramic-reinforced Ti-based coating was fabricated on a Ti6Al4V substrate surface by laser cladding. The correlations between the main processing parameters and the geometrical characteristics of single clad tracks were predicted by linear regression analysis. On this basis, the microstructure, microhardness, [...] Read more.
In this paper, TiBCN-ceramic-reinforced Ti-based coating was fabricated on a Ti6Al4V substrate surface by laser cladding. The correlations between the main processing parameters and the geometrical characteristics of single clad tracks were predicted by linear regression analysis. On this basis, the microstructure, microhardness, corrosion resistance, and wear resistance of the coating and the substrate were investigated. The results showed that the clad height, clad width, clad depth, and dilution rate depended mainly on the laser power, the powder feeding rate, and the scanning speed. TiBCN-ceramic-reinforced Ti-based coating was mainly composed of directional dendritic TiBCN phases, equiaxed TiN phases, needle-like Al3Ti phases, and Ti phases. The microhardness gradually increased from the bottom to the top of the coating. The highest microhardness of coating was 1025 HV, which was three times higher than that of the Ti6Al4V substrate (350 HV). Furthermore, the coating exhibited excellent corrosion resistance and wear resistance. The corrosion potential (Ecorr) reached −1.258 V, and the corrosion density (Icorr) was 4.035 × 10−5 A/cm2, which was one order lower than that of the Ti6Al4V substrate (1.172 × 10−4 A/cm2). The coating wear mass loss was 4.35 mg, which was about two-third of the wear mass loss of the Ti6Al4V substrate (6.71 mg). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Laser Surface Modification of Metallic Materials)
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