Fabrication of Interference Textures on Cemented Carbides Using Nanosecond and Femtosecond Laser Pulses

Abstract

Abstract Laser surface texturing has become popular in recent years, as its application in various fields may result in relevant benefits in different fields, such as tribological performance enhancement of contact surfaces. As frontline engineering materials, cemented carbides are widely used in the mining and manufacturing industries. In the case of cutting tools, surface texturing of working surfaces of cemented carbides emerges then as an interesting option. In this work, line-like structures are produced on the surface of a chosen cemented carbide grade by the method of direct laser interference patterning (DLIP), using nanosecond and femtosecond laser pulses, respectively. Specific laser setups are individually configured to obtain topographic features on the scale of a micrometer. It is aimed to assess the production precision using such configuration and compare the possible ablation effects induced by the two typical laser setups. Topographic features of the produced patterns are characterized using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Morphological features and surface integrity are examined by scanning electron microscopy combined with focused ion beam (FIB) milling. It is found that satisfactory geometrical precision is achieved both nano- and femtosecond lasers. It also complies with theoretical estimations. Surfaces formed by the femtosecond laser are cleaner and show smoother patterns, exhibiting lower melting or microcrack formation.