Ablation characteristics of the nickel-based superalloy, 699 XA using ultrafast laser

Abstract

Ultrafast pulsed laser ablation is utilised to modify the surface of a nickel-based alloy by changing its surface chemistry and structure. This study subjected a VDM® alloy 699 XAto ultrafast pulsed laser ablation under different laser parameters. The processed surfaces were characterised by a scanning electron microscope, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, mechanical profilometer, Raman microscopy, and X-ray spectroscopy. The surface roughness at the bottom of the ablated cavities was lower than 0.3 µm. The calculated ablated depth per pulse was 2.34×10-6 and 7.81×10-6 µm per pulse for laser fluence of 1 and 10 J/cm2, respectively. Laser-induced periodic surface structures covered the bottoms of the fully ablated cavities. EDX showed that the elemental distribution of alloy 699 XA wasslightly reduced after laser surface ablation. The Raman analysis shows that peaks associated with NiCr2O4, NiO, and Cr2O3 were present on the ablated surfaces. The XPS analysis shows that the amount of Ni and Cr increases as laser fluences increase. It also indicates that surface oxides such as Cr2O3 and NiCr204 are formed. The study’s findings provide insights into the surface morphologies, ablation efficiency, and surface chemistry of the laser-ablated alloy 699 XA, offering important information about its potential for various industrial applications.