515 nm wavelength laser for laser melt injection of high-quality MMC in Cu-ETP

Abstract

Laser melt injection (LMI) is used to improve abrasive wear resistance by building a metal matrix composite (MMC) layer in highly loaded tool surfaces. But LMI for highly conductive and highly reflective materials like copper can be very challenging. Nowadays high-power laser beam sources with visible wavelengths are available enabling LMI in these materials. This paper shows a suitable process window for LMI with 515 nm wavelength laser in pure copper with spherical fused tungsten carbide as reinforcing phase. High-quality MMC can be manufactured by using laser power intensities in the range of 104 W/cm² and conduction heating of the matrix mate-rial between 300 °C and 400 °C. The microstructure exhibits only a few imperfections and has a high particle content of 44 %.