LASER GLAZING USING HOLLOW OBJECTS FOR SHRINKAGE COMPLIANCE

摘要

Hollow objects (18) are incorporated into a layer of glazed material (10) formed on a substrate (12). Powdered glaze material (16) and the hollow objects are heated with an energy beam (22) to melt the glaze material without melting the hollow objects because the hollow objects have a relatively higher melting temperature. The hollow objects provide a degree of mechanical compliance that prevents cracking of the layer of glazed material upon its re-solidification. In other embodiments, a pool of molten material (38, 56) is formed on a substrate (32, 52) and hollow spheres (40, 54) are propelled into the molten material immediately behind the moving beam.