Studies on surface morphology of under liquid laser ablated magnesium alloy

Abstract

The magnesium-based alloys have limited wear resistance and tribological properties and tend to lose their functionality prematurely under sliding conditions. This can be addressed through conventional surface treatment and coatings. The surface texturing and coating can be simultaneously achieved by carrying out laser ablation under liquid medium. This improves the lubricant film, the unwanted thermal cracking, vaporization of metal and metallurgical changes. In this experimental investigation, the disintegrated melt deposition (DMD) processed Mg3Al alloy was subjected to under liquid laser ablation in 1 proponal containing graphite particles of size range 5–9 μm stirred at 1900 rpm by a magnetic stirrer. The under liquid laser ablation yielded nanostructured surface with grooves and islands that promote wettability and the presence of graphite ensuring an improvement of tribological properties. In this study, a 60 W power Nd YAG fiber laser was used to etch the surface and achieve the under liquid ablation. The surface roughness and morphology were studied using Atomic Force Microscopy and the chemical analysis of the laser-treated surface was done using Raman spectroscopy.