SURFACE TREATMENT TECHNIQUES

摘要

Energy, such as from a UV excimer laser (712), an infrared Nd:YAG laser (714) and an infrared CO2 laser (716) is directed through a nozzle (722) at the surface of a substrate (702) to mobilize and vaporize a carbon constituent (e.g., carbide) within the substrate (e.g., steel). An additional secondary source (e.g., a carbon-containing gas, such as CO2) (720) and an inert shielding gas (e.g., N2) are also delivered through the nozzle. The vaporized constituent element is reacted by the energy to alter its physical structure (e.g., from carbon to diamond) to that of a composite material which is diffused back into the substrate as a composite material.