Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University (St. Petersburg, Russia)

S. A. Vologzhanina, Dr. Eng., Prof., Dept. of Materials Science and Technology of Art Products, e-mail: vologzhanina_sa@pers.spmi.ru
R. M. Khuznakhmetov, Post-graduate Student, Dept. of Materials Science and Technology of Art Products, e-mail: ruslan.rh44@gmail.com

IPG Laser GmbH & Co. KG (Burbach, Germany)
J. V. Amyaga, Production Engineer, e-mail: joooneg@yandex.ru

LLC «Laser Center» (St. Petersburg, Russia)

E. Yu. Zhdanova, Cand. Eng. (Ph. D.), Engineer Technologist, e-mail: ivan.grey.90@mail.ru

National Research University «ITMO» (St. Petersburg, Russia)

A. Ramos-Velazkuez, Cand. Eng. (Ph. D.), Research Engineer, e-mail: alejandroramosv@itmo.ru

The workability of equipment operating in the northern regions can be ensured by using various technologies during its manufacture. Laser exposure is widely used in various industries, including manufacture of welded joints, heat treatment of small areas, application of coatings, preparation of surfaces for further processing, and marking of products both directly on the material surface and on special films. This work examines the processes occurring in the surface layer of AISI 321 austenitic steel products exposed to nanosecond laser radiation. Various methods for controlling the metal melt in the exposed zone are considered. It has previously been established that moving the beam along a trochoidal trajectory allows creation of stable linear relief up to ~700 µm high, while moving along a spiral trajectory produces point elements up to ~500 µm high. In the present study, structures up to ~400 µ m high were obtained using a linear trajectory. Laser processing methods that can be implemented using standard low-power laser equipment, were studied, enabling surface processing of austenitic steel without use of protective gas environments. It was shown that laser exposure of surface layers preserves the austenitic structure, stabilizes it, just reduces the oxide phase content, and does not lead to the formation of carbide phases in the area of the formed relief. These results are important for various branches of mechanical engineering, including laser processing during welding, creation of functional surfaces, application of durable markings, production of a preset profile in the manufacture of decorative and applied products, and tactile elements such as Braille script. The study demonstrates the potential of liquid phase control for effective relief formation on the surface of austenitic steels.

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