Strengthening brittle hard material surfaces, e.g. in inserts for tools for processing brittle workpieces, involves laser shock hammering by applying laser impulses to generate plasma bubble

摘要

Surface strengthening of brittle hard materials (1) by laser hardening is carried out by applying laser impulses (3) to the surface (6) and generating a plasma bubble. Independent claims are included for: (1) a brittle hard material insert, which has been surface-treated by laser shock hammering; and (2) a tool for processing brittle workpieces, consisting of a tool body and at least one brittle hard material insert (10), the novel feature being that the insert has has been surface-treated by laser shock hammering.