Effect of continuous wave laser treatment on the adhesion and durability of Heavy-Duty Paint coated carbon steel

Abstract

This study explored the feasibility of direct coating of steel surfaces treated with a continuous-wave laser (CWL). The adhesion and corrosion resistance of Heavy-Duty Paint coatings were evaluated on CWL-treated surfaces and compared with those of surfaces treated with molten alumina blasting. The results showed that the surface texture created by CWL provided greater adhesion of the Rc-I coating than its cohesive strength. However, the presence of oxides on the CWL-treated surfaces caused a high cathodic disbondment (CD), which reduced the corrosion resistance of the coated steel in corrosive environments. Decreasing the laser head sweep speed can improve the surface roughness and area but does not address the issues of CD and corrosion creep (CC). This study concludes that, given the limitations of current commercial CWL systems, it is recommended to blast CWL-treated surfaces before coating to improve durability and corrosion resistance in corrosive environments.