Study of structure and morphology of surface layers formed on TRIP steel by the femtosecond laser treatment

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the work is to demonstrate the possibility of using a femtosecond laser for forming surface layers with an adjustable microstructure on the surface of TRIP steel 03X13AG19, and processing the obtained images using digital complexes. Design/methodology/approach: A laser treatment of TRIP steel (03X13AG19) with pulses of femtosecond duration was carried out in a melting mode. The source of the radiation is a femtosecond titanium-sapphire Ti:Al2O3 complex consisting of a predefining femtosecond generator “Mira Optima 900-F” and regenerative amplifier Legend F-1K-HE. Peculiarities of the surface structure of irradiated samples were studied using a Solver P47-PRO atomic force microscope. The structural-geometric parameters of the surface of the investigated steel treated with the femtosecond laser were determined using the software package Nova 1.0.26.1443 and the functions of the Image Analysis. Microstructural analysis was performed using a raster electron microscope JSM 6700F and a METAM-1P microscope. In this work, the digitization of images of microstructures obtained as a result of surface irradiation by highly concentrated energy streams of femtosecond duration has been carried out. The analysis of the surface structure of laser-structured materials was carried out using a metallographic complex with the software ImProcQCV. Findings: It has been revealed that the predetermined change of the laser treatment mode changes the microrelief and the shape and size of the fragments of the surface structure of the investigated steel. The use of digital image processing allowed to generalize the morphological features of the surface structure, to assess in detail the character of the microrelief, and to monitor under in-situ mode the structure and properties of the surface of the material being studied. Research limitations/implications: The obtained research results can be applied to stainless steels of various structural classes. Practical implications: Surface digitization significantly reduces the time for research, improves the quality and accuracy of the data obtained, makes it possible to conduct in-situ researches with the further implementation of the results using the Internet of Things technologies. Originality/value: A comprehensive approach is proposed for the estimation of parameters of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) using a metallographic complex with the software ImProcQCV.