Laser Melted TiC Reinforced Nickel Aluminide Matrix in situ Composites

Titanium carbide reinforced nickel aluminide matrix in situ composites were produced using a newly patented laser melting furnace. Microstructure of the laser melted TiC/(Ni3Al–NiAl) in situ composites was characterized by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results showed that the constituent phases in the laser melted in situ composites are TiC, Ni3Al and NiAl. Volume fraction of TiC and NiAl increase with increasing content of titanium and carbon. The growth morphology of the reinforcing TiC carbide has typically faceted features, indicating that the lateral growth mechanism is still predominant growth mode under rapid.

Laser-surface-alloyed carbon nanotubes reinforced hydroxyapatite composite coatings

Carbon-nanotube sCNTd-reinforced hydroxyapatite composite coatings have been fabricated by laser surface alloying. Microstructural observation using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy showed that a large amount of CNTs remained with their or

Laser microstructuring of Si surfaces for low-threshold field-electron emission

Dense arrays of high aspect ratio Si micro-pyramids have been formed by cumulative high intensity laser irradiation of doped Si wafers in an SF6 environment. A comparative study using nanosecond (XeCl, 308 nm) and femtosecond (Ti: Sapphire, 800 nm and KrF, 248 nm) laser pulses has been performed in this work. The influence of pulse duration and ambient gas pressure (SF6) is also presented. Scanning electron microscopy has shown that upon laser irradiation conical features appear on the Si surface in a rather homogenous distribution and with a spontaneous self alignment into arrays. Their lowest tip diameter is 800 nm; while their height reaches up to 90 mum. Secondary tip decoration appears on the surface of the formed spikes. Areas of 2 X 2 mm(2) covered with Si cones have been tested as cold cathode field emitters. After several conditioning cycles, the field emission threshold for the studied Si tips is as low as 2 V/mum, with an emission current of 10(-3) A/cm(2) at 4 V/mum. Even though these structures have smaller aspect ratios than good quality carbon nanotubes, their field emission properties are similar. The simple and direct formation of field emission Si arrays over small pre-selected areas by laser irradiation could lead to a novel approach for the development of electron sources. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Wideband-tuneable, nanotube mode-locked, fibre laser.

Ultrashort-pulse lasers with spectral tuning capability have widespread applications in fields such as spectroscopy, biomedical research and telecommunications. Mode-locked fibre lasers are convenient and powerful sources of ultrashort pulses, and the inclusion of a broadband saturable absorber as a passive optical switch inside the laser cavity may offer tuneability over a range of wavelengths. Semiconductor saturable absorber mirrors are widely used in fibre lasers, but their operating range is typically limited to a few tens of nanometres, and their fabrication can be challenging in the 1.3-1.5 microm wavelength region used for optical communications. Single-walled carbon nanotubes are excellent saturable absorbers because of their subpicosecond recovery time, low saturation intensity, polarization insensitivity, and mechanical and environmental robustness. Here, we engineer a nanotube-polycarbonate film with a wide bandwidth (>300 nm) around 1.55 microm, and then use it to demonstrate a 2.4 ps Er(3+)-doped fibre laser that is tuneable from 1,518 to 1,558 nm. In principle, different diameters and chiralities of nanotubes could be combined to enable compact, mode-locked fibre lasers that are tuneable over a much broader range of wavelengths than other systems.

Research on Dynamic Micro-Deformation under Laser Point Source

The dynamic micro-deformation of the specimen under laser point source is measured using a laser beam reflex amplifier system and numerically simulated by Msc.Marc software. Compared with experimental result and calculated result, the final deformation direction of the specimen depends on the result of the thermal strain and the phase transformation strain cooperation, away from the laser beam or towards the laser beam, the final deformation angle depends on temperature gradient in the thickness direction and the geometry constraint of the specimen. The conclusion lays the foundation for further research on the mechanism of laser bending. At the same time, it is proposed that the model of calculation based on classical Fourier heat transfer theory cannot be enough to simulate the dynamic micro-deformation of the specimen under laser point source, the model of calculation should be modified in the future.

Laser drilling improving circuit board manufacturing

We reported here a novel technique for laser high speed drillings on Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs). A CNC solid laser based system is developed to drill through and blind vias as an alternative to mechanical drilling. The system employs an Acousto-Optic Q-switched Nd: YAG laser, a computer control system and an X-Y moving table which can handle up to 400 x 400 mm PCB. With a special designed cavity the laser system works in a pulsed operation in order to generate pulses with width down to 0.5 mu s and maximum peak power over 10kW at 10k repetition rate. Delivered by an improved optical beam transforming system, the focused laser beam can drill hobs including blind vias on PCBs with diameter in the range of 0.1 - 0.4 mm and at up to 300 - 500 vias per second (depending on the construction of PCBs). By means of a CNC X-Y moving system, laser pulses with pulse-to-pulse superior repeatability can be fired at desired location on a PCBs with high accuracy. This alternative technology for drilling through or blind vias on PCBs or PWBs (printed wiring boards) will obviously enhance the capability to printed boards manufacturing.

Interfacial microstructure and mechanical behaviour in laser clad TiCp/Ni alloy coatings

Coatings of TiCp reinforced composite have been produced by laser cladding. Two kinds of coating with different TiCp origins were investigated, i.e. undissolved TiCp and in situ TiCp. For undissolved TiCp, epitaxial growth of TiC, precipitation of CrB, and a chemical reaction occur at phase interfaces, and nanoindentation loading curves show pop in marks caused by the plastic deformation associated with crack formation or debonding of TiCp from the matrix. As for in situ TiCp, no pop in mark appears. Meanwhile, in situ TiCp produces hardness and elastic modulus values that are higher than those produced by the coating that contains undissolved TiCp.

Investigation on Laser Cladding MOSi2 Powder on Steel

The feasibility of the fabrication of coatings for elevated-temperature structural applications by laser cladding MoSi2 powder on steel was investigated. A dense and crack-free fine coating, well-bonded with the substrate has been obtained by this technique. This coating consists of FeMoSi, Fe2Si and a small amount of Mo5Si3 due to dilution of the substrate in the coating. The microstruelure of the coating is characterized of typical fine dendrites. The dendrites are composed of FeMoSi primary phase, and the interdendritic areas are two eutectic phases of FeMoSi and Fe2Si. The hardness of the coating reaches 845 Hv(0.5), 3.7 times larger than that of the steel substrate (180Hv(0.5)).