Laser Texturing as Interfacial Treatment for Enhancing the Material Behaviors—The Real Influence of the Laser Treatment

Abstract

Surface texturing is one of the most technologically appropriate laser surface treatment applications. Over the past few decades, texturing has emerged as an attractive surface engineering option and has been used by researchers to generate micro/nanopatterns on operating surfaces. This technique can create simple or complex patterns on component surfaces depending on their aesthetic or functional goals and without altering the overall properties. In addition, this non-contact process can be applied to hard-to-reach areas. Recently, laser surface texturing has been applied to improve the adhesion of contact surfaces. Several authors have demonstrated the impact and benefits of textured surfaces to achieve optimal adhesion of coatings and increase in-service behavior. Nevertheless, based on the laser-matter interaction phenomena, chemical and mechanical transformations of the surfaces can be noticed but are difficult to characterize. Indeed, the affected layers are of the order of a few hundred nanometers. Then, analyses must be performed with variable levels of resolution in order to analyze the structural, chemical and mechanical characteristics of the matter. To develop new applications of unconventional assemblies and improved adhesion of new materials, a control of these local modifications is required.