Blackening of magnesium alloy using femtosecond laser

Magnesium alloy, a potential structural and biodegradable material, has been increasingly attracting attention. In this paper, two structures with enhanced light absorption on an AZ31B magnesium surface are fabricated by femtosecond laser texturing. Laser power and the number of laser pulses are mainly investigated for darkening effect. After irradiation, surface characteristics are analyzed by a scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive spectrometer and laser scanning confocal microscope. The darkening effect is investigated by a spectrophotometer with an integrating sphere. Microgroove and stripe structures are obtained, which are covered with homogeneous nanoprotrusions and nanoparticles. The main surface chemical composition after laser ablation is MgO. The optimal light absorption in the visible range (wavelength of 400-800 nm) reaches about 98%, which is significantly improved compared with the untreated surface. The enhanced light absorption is mainly attributed to surface structure. Femtosecond laser surface texturing technology offers potential in the application of stealth technology, airborne devices, and biomedicine.