A method of surface-treating ceramic workpieces using a laser

摘要

A carbon dioxide laser (4) directs a beam (6) onto a ceramic workpiece to be treated (18), which workpiece moves along arrow (20). A carrier gas injector (14) injects a moderate throughput of spheroidized powder of a ceramic material into said beam. After melting and solidifying, the layer (24) after has microcracks which are smaller than they would have been if there had been no projected powder. The method is applicable to the construction of heat engines.