Surface treatment with lasers

We distinguish between several differentprocesses in surface processing such as laser transformation hardening, surface modification, laser alloying, and laser coating. Hard layers of a precisely defined width and depth can be produced in transformation hardening. Surface modification can refer to e.g. remelting or tempering.

During alloying, gaseous materials or solid materials are brought into the surface in order to selectively change properties of the surface layer. When coating, a layer is applied to a workpiece in order to improve corrosion resistance or wear resistance. Argon is the most commonly used shielding gas in these processes which are often associated with lower intensity of an unfocussed or defocused beam. Refer to Facts About Laser Welding for further notes and information.