Examining surfaces of oxidized aluminum exposed to СО2 laser pulses

Abstract

Comprehensive microstructure studies of the surfaces of duralumin sheets exposed to an intense microsecond СО2 laser pulse (Е ~ 500 J) are performed for the first time. The irradiated area is ~100 cm2. A pulse with a duration of ~5 μs has an ~200 ns leading peak. Passivated duralumin sheets subjected to pressure and thermal treatment resulting in the formation of Al2O3 layers ~7 μm thick are irradiated. Electron and atomic force microscopy, X-ray spectral analysis, and optical profilometry are used in the study. Detected traces of nonequilibrium evaporation contained a polycrystalline aggregate of several stoichiometric and nonstoichiometric phases of aluminum oxide and its compounds with manganese and magnesium.