Laser heat treatment is a process of surface treatment of metal with a high-density laser beam.
Laser heat treatment can be performed on metal surfaces, resulting in modifications such as surface hardening, surface alloying, and others. This leads to changes in the surface composition, structure, and properties that cannot be achieved through traditional surface quenching methods.
After laser treatment, the surface hardness of cast iron can increase to over 60 degrees HRC, while the surface hardness of medium-carbon and high-carbon steel can reach over 70 degrees HRC, thereby improving the material’s wear resistance, fatigue resistance, corrosion resistance, oxidation resistance, and other properties, and extending its service life.
In comparison to other heat treatments such as induction hardening, carburizing, and nitriding, laser heat treatment technology possesses several unique characteristics.
1. No additional materials are necessary. Simply modify the structure of the surface of the material being treated.
The treated layer has a sufficient thickness after treatment and can be adjusted to meet the desired depth, typically ranging from 0.1-0.8mm.
2. The treated layer has a strong bond with the substrate.
The laser surface treatment creates a dense metallurgical bond between the modified layer and the matrix material. As a result, the treated layer has a dense metallurgical structure with high hardness and wear resistance.
3. The treated part experiences minimal deformation. This is due to the high laser power density and the short action time of 10-2 to 10 seconds.
As a result, the thermal deformation zone and overall variation of the part are kept to a minimum.
This makes laser surface treatment suitable for processing high-precision parts as the final step in material and part processing.
4. The treatment process offers good processing flexibility and a wide range of applications.
The flexible light guiding system allows the laser to be directed to the desired processing area, making it easy to treat deep holes, bores, blind holes, and grooves.
Selective, local processing is also possible.
