Abstract
Granite stones are the most abundant rock of the crust. Due to their beauty, durability, and virtually zero maintenance, they have been used widely since ancient times in all types of construction, as a structural or decorative element. Commonly, this material is used with a polished finishing, but there has been an increased interest in giving it a rustic aspect, mainly for decorative or functional reasons, e.g., to reduce slipping. Rough surfaces are usually produced by means of bush hammering, but this is an extremely noisy and inefficient process. In this work we have explored the capabilities and limits of a laser blasting process assisted by a scanning system in order to produce precise and controllable roughness on two varieties of granite plates. It was found that laser blasting of thin granite tiles can be accomplished with processing widths up to 250 mm at medium-low laser power, obtaining a rustic aspect suitable for use in façades, paving, or flooring. Moreover, laser scanner systems are capable of enhancing the productivity of this process up to ten times greater than that found in previous works.
Highlights
Granite stones are one of the most suitable materials for construction due to their beauty, durability, and low maintenance
We investigated laser blasting process assisted by scanning systems on two varieties of granite
The utilization of a laser beam in conjunction with a scanning system allows for the treatment of large areas
Summary
Granite stones are one of the most suitable materials for construction due to their beauty, durability, and low maintenance. Its composition depends on the exact variety of granite, but in general it is mainly composed of feldspar, quartz, a small amount of mica, and minor accessory minerals (such as zircon, apatite, magnetite, ilmenite, or sphene) [1]. These materials have a greater strength than marble, sandstone, or limestone and are more difficult to machine [2]. From a commercial point of view, the maximum usage of granite is in paving, internal and external flooring, and façades [4]
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