Influence of laser parameters on the microstructures and surface properties in laser surface modification of biomedical magnesium alloys

Biodegradable implants from magnesium(Mg)alloys have emerged in the biomedical field especially in the orthopedic and cardiovascular stent applications owing to their low density,high specific strength,excellent machinability,good biocompatibility,and biodegradability.The primary shortcoming of Mg-based implants is their low corrosion resistance in the physiological environment,which results in premature mechanical integrity loss before adequate healing and the production of excessive hydrogen gas,which is harmful to the body tissues and negatively affects the biocompatibility of the implant.Laser surface modification has recently received attention because it can improve the surface properties such as surface chemistry,roughness,topography,corrosion resistance,wear resistance,hydrophilicity,and thus cell response to the surface of the material.The composition and microstructures including textures and phases of laser-treated surfaces depend largely on the laser processing parameters(input laser power,laser scan velocity,frequency,pulse duration,pressure,gas circulation,working time,spot size,beam focal position,and laser track overlap)and the thermophysical properties of the substrate(solubility,melting point,and boiling point).This review investigates the impacts of various laser surface modification techniques including laser surface melting,laser surface alloying,laser cladding,laser surface texturing,and laser shock peening,and highlights their significance in improving the surface properties of biodegradable Mg alloys for implant applications.Additionally,we explore how different laser process parameters affect its composition,microstructure,and surface properties in each laser surface modification technique.

Use of a Laser/TIG Combination for Surface Modification of Ti-6Al-4V Alloy

The surface modification of materials such as Ti-6Al-4V is necessary to improve their wear resistant properties for use in tribological applications. In this paper it is shown that a laser with low power and tungsten inert gas (TIG) can be combined together for surface modification of Ti-6Al-4V alloy, and when performed in a controlled atmosphere of pure nitrogen or a mixture of nitrogen and argon, can produce a wear-resistant surface alloy. Compared with laser processing, a cheaper surface modification process has been developed involving a shorter processing time, which is free of stringent requirements such as a vacuum system.

Ceramics Surface Modification by Excimer Laser Metal Coating

Thin metallic layers (~ 2 μm) of Ni were deposited on polycrystalline Al2O3. ZrO2 and (Ce-TZP)+Al2O3 ceramic substrates. and further irradiated with pulsed excimer (Xeno chloride) laser pulses. The laser energy density was varied from 0.21 to 0.81 J / cm2 to optimize bending strength. For ZrO2 ceramic, it was found that the strength increases from 530 to 753 MPa at 0.51 J / cm2 irradiation. For Al2O3 and (Ce-TZP)+ Al2O3 the fracture strength also increases in varying degree. The causes of strength increment were discussed.

Surface Modification of Ceramic Materials Using Excimer Laser

Changes of surface morphology following XeCI excimer laser irradiation were investigated for three engineering ceramic materials (Al2O3, Al2O3-SiC nanocomposite and Si3N4). Al2O3 and AI2O3-SiC nanocomposite samples exhibit a smooth rapid melt layer on the surface, and the formation of the metastabfe γ-Al2Oa was observed. A silicon-rich layer on the surface was formed after laser irradiation of Si3N4. The toughness K1c of the materials was measured by the indentation fracture method. After laser irradiation, the toughness of Al2O3, Al2O3-SiC nanocomposite and Si3N4 was improved to various degrees: Al2O3-SiC nanocomposite, 60% (max.); AI203, 40% (max.); Si3N4, 12% (max.).

RESIDUAL AUSTENITE AND STRAIN-INDUCED MARTENSITE IN LASER HARDENING LAYER ON GRAY IRON

The distribution of residual austenite in the laser hardening laver on the gray cast iron and the change in the amount of residual austenite during sliding wearing have been investigated by X-ray diffractometer.The thin foils of the hardening layer worn down have been observed by electron microscopy.It was revealed that two types of martensite are strain-induced by slid- ing wearing under load of 1.72 MPa on the hardening layer of residual austenite.The strain induced martensite is profitable to improve the sliding wearing resistance.

MICROSTRUCTURE OF LASER MELTED-RESOLIDIFIED LAYER ON HIGH SPEED TOOL STEEL

The laser melted-resolidified processing on W18Cr4V high speed tool steel has been made us- ing a 1 kW CO_2 continuous wave laser device.The microstructure of the laser melted- resolidified layer has been examined by optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy(TEM).It was characteristic of extremely fine dendrite in the laser melted- resolidified layer and δ-ferrite in bulk form in the center of dendrite.The predominant twin martensite and a little dislocation martensite existed in the dendrite.The thin plate-like M_(213)C_6 carbide precipitated coherently on the twin martensites along their twin plane.There were both austenite rich in W,V and Cr and M_6C carbide in the interdendritic regions.

Corrosion Resistance of AZ91 Magnesium Alloy after Laser Remelting Treatment

The main objective of the study was the modification of the surface layer of magnesium alloy by the COlaser. The studied material was the commercial AZ91 magnesium alloy. The effectiveness of the alternations caused by the remelting process was verified on the basis of microscopic observation and corrosion investigations, i e, recording of potentiodynamic polarization curves, electrochemical noise measurements and hydrogen evolution rate measurements. For the adopted range of the treatment parameters, favourable changes were observed in the surface layer such as the refinement of structure and more uniform arrangement of individual phases. As a consequence of those favourable structural changes the improvement of the corrosion resistance of the alloy was achieved in comparison to its non-remelted equivalent. For the treated material corrosion rates expressed as corrosion current densities were at least three times lower than the appropriate values for the untreated alloy comparing them for the same period of samples immersion in the test solution. The obtained results have confirmed the effectiveness of the applied surface treatment resulting in favourable changes in the structure and corrosion properties of the AZ91 magnesium alloy.

Modification of wettability of stainless steel by picosecond laser surface microstructuring

We report on the modification of the wettability of stainless steel by picosecond laser surface microstructuring in this paper. Compared with traditional methods, picosecond laser-induced surface modification provides a fast and facile method for surface modification without chemical damage and environmental pollution. As a result of treatment by 100 ps laser pulses, microstructures are fabricated on the stainless steel sample surface, contributing to the increase of the contact angle from 88° to 105°, which realizes a transformation from hydrophilicity to hydrophobicity. The morphological features of fabricated microstructures are characterized by scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy.