Influence of High Power Nd: YAG Laser on Hardness and Surface Properties of Zirconium Silicate

Abstract

Different parameters like irradiated area, irradiation time, laser wavelength, pulse energy, and the nature of the irradiated material determine largely the effect of the laser-matter interaction. In this, study the influence of high power Nd: YAG laser irradiation on the hardness and surface properties of zirconium silicate (ZrSiO4) ceramics was investigated. Specimens of zirconium ceramic pieces were divided into four samples depend on irradiation duration as follows: one reference sample and three samples treated with Nd: YAG laser at irradiation times vary from 3 to 5 minutes. The irradiation was done with 60 W output power. The hardness and tensile strength were determined and the optical properties were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, also EDX spectra were carried out. The obtained results revealed that high power (60 W) Nd: YAG laser provides higher hardness compared to the reference sample surface. Increasing irradiation time resulted in the higher hardness of the ceramic surfaces. EDX results showed that laser irradiation does not change the chemical surface composition of ceramics. Moreover, an increase in transmittance of the irradiated zirconium silicate in the visible and near-infrared range was also found using UV-vis spectroscopy.