Jump ablation-based improvement of nanosecond laser processing of SiCp/AA2024 composites. (February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Huanzhen; Zhang, Chunyuan; Wang, Huaying; Wang, Li
• Is Part Of: Optics & laser technology. Volume 134(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-02
• Subjects: Metal matrix composites -- Nanosecond laser -- Ablation -- Plasma -- Phase explosion; Optics -- Periodicals; Lasers -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 621.366
• DOI: 10.1016/j.optlastec.2020.106633
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0030-3992

Abstract

Highlights: An innovative jump ablation technology was proposed and experimentally validated. Machining of composites using nanosecond laser jump ablation was studied. Ablation rate increased and surface oxidization decreased using jump ablation method. Jump ablation can effectively alleviate the effects from plasma and ejecting melt particles. Abstract: Ceramic particulate reinforced metal matrix composites is a promising material, but it is difficult to be machined. Pulsed laser processing as a advanced technique is widely used in material processing, but the pulsed laser processing of particulate reinforced metal matrix composites is not sufficiently studied. In this work, scanning ablation of SiC particulate reinforced aluminum metal matrix (SiCp /AA2024) composites was conducted using a nanosecond laser. An innovative jump ablation method was proposed, and the composites processing by jump ablation and common ablation were compared. Both plasma's and nanosecond laser ablation mechanism's effects on ablation were analyzed. In contrast to common ablation, jump ablation can effectively increase the ablation depth and rate. At an SOR of 95%, the ablation depth was 39 μm and 99 μm in common and jump ablation respectively, and the increasement was nearly 150%. Meanwhile, The matrix and reinforcement phases on the composites' ablated surface after jump ablation exhibited relatively independent distribution, while the recast layer was thinner and less oxidized than that produced by common ablation.