LASER PEENING METHOD AND APPARATUS USING ABLATION LAYERS TO PREVENT PITTING DURING LASER PEENING

摘要

A hybrid ablation layer (10, 14) that comprises a separate underlayer (10) is applied to a material (12) to prevent pitting resulting from laser peening. The underlayer (10) adheres to the surface of the workpiece (12) to be peened and does not have bubbles and voids that exceed an acceptable size. One or more overlayers (14) are placed over and in contact with the underlayer (12). Any bubbles formed under the over layers (14) are insulated from the surface to be peened. The process significantly reduces the incidence of pits on peened surfaces.