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Wettability characteristics of a modified mild steel with CO2, Nd:YAG, excimer and high power diode lasers

J Lawrence and L Li

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Interaction of CO2, Nd:YAG, excimer and high-power diode laser radiation with the surface of a common mild steel (EN8) was found to effect changes in the wettability characteristics of the steel, namely changes in the measured contact angle of certain liquids. Such changes were identified as being due to modifications to (i) the surface roughness, (ii) changes in the surface oxygen content and (iii) changes in the surface energy of the mild steel. However, it was found that changes in the wettability characteristics of the mild steel were predominantly influenced by the surface roughness. To a much lesser extent surface O2 content is also thought to play a role. The work has shown that the wettability characteristics of the selected mild steel could be controlled and/or modified with laser surface treatment. Moreover, the findings of this work strongly indicate the existence of a relationship between the change of the wetting properties of the mild steel and the laser wavelength.


PACS

42.62.Cf Industrial applications

42.55.Lt Gas lasers including excimer and metal-vapor lasers

81.65.-b Surface treatments

42.60.By Design of specific laser systems

68.47.De Metallic surfaces

42.60.Jf Beam characteristics: profile, intensity, and power; spatial pattern formation

79.20.Ds Laser-beam impact phenomena

42.55.Px Semiconductor lasers; laser diodes

68.08.Bc Wetting

68.03.Cd Surface tension and related phenomena

Subjects

Soft matter, liquids and polymers

Condensed matter: electrical, magnetic and optical

Surfaces, interfaces and thin films

Optics, quantum optics and lasers

Dates

Issue 18 (21 September 1999)

Received 4 June 1999



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