Processing materials with lasers

NOV 01, 1976

The laser, a clean source of thermal energy with high power density, can melt metallic and ceramic alloys to produce novel and useful microstructures; it also adapts well to automated processing techniques.

DOI: 10.1063/1.3024504

Edward M. Breinan

Conrad M. Banas

Bernard H. Kear

How can we make an alloy to fit a specific materials requirement? The oldest method of alloy fabrication, casting, has two inherent limitations: Phases with high melting points are difficult to melt; and the cooling of the alloys from the melt is slow, so that alloy segregation and phase separation have time to occur. The other traditional method, powder metallurgy, has helped with the second of these problems: Allowing the homogeneous melt to be cooled in tiny droplets makes it possible at least to limit segregation to the scale of the resulting powder particles.

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References

1. B. P. Fairand, B. A. Wilcox, W. J. Gallagher, D. N. Williams, J. Appl. Phys. 43, 3893 (1972).https://doi.org/JAPIAU
2. B. P. Fairand, A. H. Clauer, R. G. Jung, B. A. Wilcox, Appl. Phys. Lett. 25, 431 (1974).https://doi.org/APPLAB
3. H. Jones, C. Suryanarayama, J. Mater. Sci. 8, 705 (1973).https://doi.org/JMTSAS
4. H. Jones, Rep. Progress Phys. 36, 1425 (1973).https://doi.org/RPPHAG

More about the authors

Edward M. Breinan, United Technologies Research Center, East Hartford.

Conrad M. Banas, United Technologies Research Center, East Hartford.

Bernard H. Kear, Pratt and Whitney Aircraft Group of United Technologies Corporation, Middletown, Connecticut.