Title: The effect of laser-induced oxygen-diffusion hardening on the surface structure and scratch resistance of commercially pure Ti

Authors: Changjun Chen, Min Zhang, Qingming Chang, Shichang Zhang, Hongyan Ma

Addresses: Key Laboratory for Ferrous Metallurgy and Resources Utilization of Ministry of Education, Laser Processing Research Center, College of Materials and Metallurgy, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, PR China. ' Laser Processing Research Center, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, PR China. ' Laser Processing Research Center, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, PR China. ' Laser Processing Research Center, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, PR China. ' Department of Materials Engineering, Shenyang Institute of Aeronautical Engineering, Shenyang 100034, PR China

Abstract: The objective of this research was to determine the effect of an oxygen-diffusion hardening process by a pulsed Nd:YAG laser on the surface morphology, microhardness and wear resistance of commercially pure titanium. The repetition of laser shots at the surface of the titanium induces the progressive oxidation and the formation of oxygen-diffusion hardening coatings. The treated layers have been characterised by optical and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) observation, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis and wear test. The oxygen-diffusion hardened samples were obtained in this work. The treated samples were more resistant to scratch damage and corrosion compared with the non-treated samples. The surface coating consisted of a hardened TiO₂ surface layer under Ar+O₂ or ambient atmosphere.

Keywords: laser treatment; oxygen-diffusion hardening; titanium; surface morphology; microhardness; wear resistance; corrosion; surface structure; scratch resistance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSURFSE.2010.033249

International Journal of Surface Science and Engineering, 2010 Vol.4 No.3, pp.214 - 226

Published online: 14 May 2010 *

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