Author(s)

G. Banas, J. Chu, J.M. Rigsbee, F.V. Lawrence & H.E. Elsayed-Ali

Abstract

Laser shock processing of low carbon steel G. Banas," J. Chu," J.M. Rigsbee," F.V. Lawrence/ H.E. Elsayed-Ali^ "University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign, USA & Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Rochester, Fork, ABSTRACT The effect of laser shock processing (LSP) on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the low carbon (0.04 wt % C) steel was studied. LSP was performed with a 1.054 ^m wavelength Ndrphosphate laser operating in a pulse mode (600 ps duration and up to 200 J energy with a 3 mm diameter beam) with power densities above 10* * W/cmA Shock waves were generated by volume expansion of the plasma formed when the material was laser irradiated. Maximum shock wave intensities were obtained by not using a plasma-confining overlay. When an energy-absorbing black paint coating was used, the specimen surface yielded LSP-induced deformation without melting. The maximum pressure we were able to generate was approximately 2.5 GPa. The rise-time was about

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