Surface characterization of fiber laser texturing on Hastelloy C-276 at different temperatures

Abstract

Laser systems have demonstrated the potential to create micro-features that significantly influence the friction and wear characteristics of challenging-to-machine workpiece surfaces. This study examines the potential benefits of laser texturing the surface at high temperatures to make the Hastelloy C-276 superalloy more resistant to wear and reduce friction, which is commonly used in high-temperature applications in industries such as aerospace, automotive, semiconductor, and nuclear. A total of 72 laser textured surfaces are produced using a 50 W nanosecond pulsed fiber laser, with the aim of improving the overall efficiency and reliability of Hastelloy C-276. The research aims to study the influence of laser power, pulse frequency, and scan speed on the surface properties of Hastelloy C-276 at various temperatures, including room temperature, 100 °C, and 200 °C. A simultaneous heating apparatus is developed for elevated-temperature surface texturing, and the surface topography is evaluated using parameters such as R_a, R_sk, R_ku, and R_z. Additionally, micro-structural analysis is performed using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The findings indicate that modifying the scan speed and pulse frequency leads to enhanced surface properties when using fiber laser technology to generate surface textures on Hastelloy alloy while applying concurrent heating. Furthermore, the influence of laser power on the properties of the surface at elevated temperatures is found to be negligible. This study contributes to the understanding of the influence of laser parameters on laser-textured surfaces of Hastelloy C-276, particularly at elevated temperatures, thereby providing valuable insights for improving the performance of this superalloy in high-temperature applications.