Laser Processing and Modification of Materials

A special issue of Photonics (ISSN 2304-6732). This special issue belongs to the section "Optical Interaction Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 May 2024 | Viewed by 1811

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
School of Computer Science and Engineering, Bangor University, Dean Street, Bangor LL57 1UT, Gwynedd, UK
Interests: laser material processing; laser cleaning; laser remanufacturing technologies; laser additive manufacturing; laser surface processing; laser cladding; laser ablation; laser micro-machining; laser micro/nano-fabrication; direct laser writing; two-photon polymerisation micro 3D printing; near-field optics

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Guest Editor
School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1037 Luoyu Road, Wuhan 430074, China
Interests: laser material processing; laser welding; laser additive manufacturing; laser surface processing; welding metallurgy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Laser processing and laser modification of materials are technologies that use laser beams to alter the physical, chemical, or mechanical properties of materials for various applications based on the interaction between laser beam and material. These interactions depend on several factors, such as material properties, laser parameters (wavelength, power, pulse duration, etc.), and processing environment (atmosphere, pressure, etc.). Laser processes can be categorised by the scale of their effect on the material. The large-scale effects, such as cutting, welding, cladding, alloying, and drilling, are mainly used for fabrication, joining, repair, and surface modification of materials. The small-scale effects, such as micro texturing, scribing, micro drilling, and nanostructuring, are mostly used for functionalization, patterning, and manipulation of materials at the micro or nano level. This Special Issue aims to disseminate new concepts, experimental methods or results, and applications of laser material processing technologies, as well as theoretical models that enhance the understanding of laser-matter interactions. Original research articles and reviews are welcome. The research areas covered by this Special Issue may include but are not limited to the following:

  • Laser-based material processing;
  • Laser-based material modification;
  • Hybrid material processing involving laser;
  • 3D printing and additive manufacturing involving laser;
  • Applications of laser material processing in manufacturing;
  • Applications of laser material processing in communication;
  • Applications of laser material processing in biomedical sciences;
  • Modelling of laser-based material processing and modification;
  • Modelling of laser–material interaction.

We look forward to your contributions.

Dr. Liyang Yue
Prof. Dr. Wei Guo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • laser
  • laser material processing
  • laser applications
  • laser cutting
  • laser welding
  • laser cleaning
  • laser surface patterning
  • laser drilling
  • laser cladding
  • laser machining

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 8405 KiB  
Article
Rapid Fabrication of Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Microhole Array Based on Femtosecond Bessel Beam
by Heng Yang, Yuan Yu, Tong Zhang, Shufang Ma, Lin Chen, Bingshe Xu and Zhiyong Wang
Photonics 2024, 11(5), 408; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics11050408 - 27 Apr 2024
Viewed by 248
Abstract
High-aspect-ratio microholes, the fundamental building blocks for microfluidics, optical waveguides, and other devices, find wide applications in aerospace, biomedical, and photonics fields. Yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) crystals are commonly used in optical devices due to their low stress, hardness, and excellent chemical stability. [...] Read more.
High-aspect-ratio microholes, the fundamental building blocks for microfluidics, optical waveguides, and other devices, find wide applications in aerospace, biomedical, and photonics fields. Yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) crystals are commonly used in optical devices due to their low stress, hardness, and excellent chemical stability. Therefore, finding efficient fabrication methods to produce high-quality microholes within YAG crystals is crucial. The Bessel beam, characterized by a uniform energy distribution along its axis and an ultra-long depth of focus, is highly suitable for creating high-aspect-ratio structures. In this study, an axicon lens was used to shape the spatial profile of a femtosecond laser into a Bessel beam. Experimental verification showed a significant improvement in the high aspect ratio of the microholes produced in YAG crystals using the femtosecond Bessel beam. This study investigated the effects of the power and defocus parameters of single-pulse Bessel beams on microhole morphology and size, and microhole units with a maximum aspect ratio of more than 384:1 were obtained. Based on these findings, single-pulse femtosecond Bessel processing parameters were optimized, and an array of 181 × 181 microholes in a 400 μm thick YAG crystal was created in approximately 13.5 min. The microhole array had a periodicity of 5 μm and a unit aspect ratio of 315:1, with near-circular top and subface apertures and high repeatability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Laser Processing and Modification of Materials)
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15 pages, 8946 KiB  
Article
Synthesis of Aluminium Nitride-Based Coatings on Mild Steel Substrates Utilising an Integrated Laser/Sol–Gel Method
by Ogulcan Eren, Alhaji M. Kamara, Huseyin Kursad Sezer and Sundar Marimuthu
Photonics 2024, 11(4), 382; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics11040382 - 18 Apr 2024
Viewed by 402
Abstract
The field of protective coatings for industrial applications is continuously evolving, driven by a need for materials that offer exceptional hardness, enhanced wear resistance, and low friction coefficients. Conventional methods of coating development, such as physical vapour deposition (PVD) and chemical vapour deposition [...] Read more.
The field of protective coatings for industrial applications is continuously evolving, driven by a need for materials that offer exceptional hardness, enhanced wear resistance, and low friction coefficients. Conventional methods of coating development, such as physical vapour deposition (PVD) and chemical vapour deposition (CVD), often face challenges like the necessity of vacuum conditions, slow growth rates, and weak substrate adhesion, leading to inadequate interface bonding. This study introduces a novel approach utilising an integrated laser/sol–gel method for synthesising aluminium nitride (AlN) coatings on EN43 mild steel substrates which overcomes these limitations. The technique employs a high-intensity diode laser with optimal power and translation speeds to consolidate a pre-applied thin layer of sol–gel slurry consisting of aluminium hydroxide, graphite, and urea on the substrate. Chemical thermodynamic calculations were used to predict the slurry composition, along with identifying the critical temperature range and the essential enthalpy needed for the synthesis of aluminium nitride. A three-dimensional heat transfer model was developed to predict the important process parameters, such as scanning speed and laser power density, required to achieve the temperature ranges necessary for a successful deposition process. Optical and scanning electron microscopy techniques were used to examine the surface morphology and microstructure of the coating. Elemental energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and an X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the synthesis of an aluminium nitride coating with a thickness ranging from 4 to 5 µm. Furthermore, the detection of sub-micron crystalline aluminium nitride structures yielding a metal matrix composite interlayer was indicative of strong metallurgical bonding. Microhardness testing indicated a hardness value of approximately 876 HV. The coated samples with the highest quality exhibited a surface roughness, Ra, ranging from 1.8 to 2.1 µm. Additionally, the coatings demonstrated an exceptionally low coefficient of friction, recorded at less than 0.1. These results represent a significant step forward in this field, offering a cost-effective, efficient, and scalable solution for producing high-quality coatings with superior performance characteristics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Laser Processing and Modification of Materials)
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13 pages, 5031 KiB  
Article
Simulation and Experimental Study on Continuous Wave Fiber Laser Removal of Epoxy Resin Paint Film on the Surface of 6061 Aluminum Alloy
by Yahui Li, Jingyi Li, Hang Dong, Wei Zhang and Guangyong Jin
Photonics 2024, 11(1), 82; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics11010082 - 17 Jan 2024
Viewed by 832
Abstract
Paint removal is an essential process in the industrial field. Laser technology provides an effective method of paint removal to replace traditional mechanical and chemical methods. This paper establishes a continuous wave (CW) laser thermal paint removal model based on heat conduction theory [...] Read more.
Paint removal is an essential process in the industrial field. Laser technology provides an effective method of paint removal to replace traditional mechanical and chemical methods. This paper establishes a continuous wave (CW) laser thermal paint removal model based on heat conduction theory and Arrhenius’ law. The paint stripping process of epoxy paint film on the surface of 6061 aluminum alloy via CW laser was studied through simulation and experiment. We found that the carbonization of the paint film during the CW laser paint removal process will inhibit the laser paint removal process. Therefore, the paint removal efficiency of the CW laser is limited. The depth of CW laser paint removal increases linearly with the CW laser power density. However, during the CW laser paint removal process, due to the pyrolysis of the paint film and the reflection of the laser by the substrate, the surface temperature of the material first increases and then decreases. In addition, after laser paint removal, the surface roughness of the material after paint removal is reduced due to the melting of the base material. The model established in this article can provide a theoretical reference for studying the CW laser paint removal process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Laser Processing and Modification of Materials)
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