Ultrashort pulsed laser ablation of stainless steels

This research investigated the ablation process of commercial stainless steels with ultrashort pulsed laser. Square hollows were ablated on stainless steel sheets using a picosecond laser with pulse duration of 0.25, 1 and 10 ps, respectively, and fluence ranging from 0.125 J/cm2 to 5 J/cm2. For eac...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of machine tools & manufacture 2019-03, Vol.138, p.27-35
Main Authors: Villerius, V., Kooiker, H., Post, J., Pei, Y.T.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cones
Energy dispersive X ray spectroscopy
Fluence
Inclusion-induced cone
Inclusions
Laser ablation
Lasers
Metal sheets
Micro-machining
Optical microscopy
Periodic protrusion
Pulse duration
Pulsed lasers
Scanning electron microscopy
Stainless steel
Stainless steels
Surface properties
Ultrashort pulsed laser
Ultrashort pulsed lasers
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Summary:This research investigated the ablation process of commercial stainless steels with ultrashort pulsed laser. Square hollows were ablated on stainless steel sheets using a picosecond laser with pulse duration of 0.25, 1 and 10 ps, respectively, and fluence ranging from 0.125 J/cm2 to 5 J/cm2. For each setting the surface quality and ablation efficiency were determined by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Processing windows producing high quality surfaces at high ablation efficiency were found at a fluence around 0.75 J/cm2 for the two shorter pulse lengths tested. Individual cones and periodic cone-like protrusions were found in the low fluence regime (0.875 J/cm2), respectively, both of which make the ablated surface rough. Emphasizing on the individual cones, it is found that the cones are caused by inclusions in the base materials, attributed to a higher fluence threshold required for ceramic-like inclusions. This novel theory explaining the creation mechanism is verified by multiple analysis methods like SEM and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and stop-motion SEM imaging. •Square hollows were ablated on stainless steel sheets using a picosecond laser.•Inclusions induced cones found in the low fluence regime (0.875 J/cm2).•Stop-motion SEM imaging revealed the formation mechanism of inclusions induced cones..•The process window is the widest for 0.25 ps pulse and narrows with increasing pulse duration.
ISSN:0890-6955
1879-2170
DOI:10.1016/j.ijmachtools.2018.11.003