Controlled Laser Transformation Hardening of Martensitic Stainless Steel by Pulsed Nd:YAG Laser

摘要

Laser transformation hardening(LTH) was applied to the surface of the AISI 420 martensitic stainless steel by a pulsed Nd:YAG laser to obtain optimum hardness.The influences of process para-meters(laser pulse energy,duration time,and travel speed) on the depth and hardness of laser treated area were investigated.Image analysis of SEM micros-tructure of AISI 420 showed that plate-like carbide have almost fully and(30~40)% of globular carbide particles dissolved into the matrix after laser transformation hardening by pulsed laser and the microstructure was refined to obtain controlled tempered martensite microstructure with 450 VHN hardness.