Characteristics of laser surface melted aluminum alloys

Specimens of Al-Fe 1-4 w/o, 2024 and 6061 Al have been surface melted with a pulsed Nd-glass laser. A TEM and SEM study showed that the dendrite spacings were from 2500 A to 4000 A which corresponds to a cooling rate of over 10(6) degrees C/sec. Melt depths obtained were in the range of 30-100 microm. No significant surface vaporization was observed at energy densities up to 440 J/cm(2). Fracture surfaces of the commerical alloys demonstrated elongated porosity in the melt areas, probably due to internal hydrogen.