Enhancment of the corrosion resistance of copper metal by laser surface treatment

Abstract

In this work, the copper metal was treated using Nd:YAG laser with energy 1Joul to enhance corrosion resistance and improve surface properties. The copper metal has many applications in industry as well as water, oil and gas pipes. The same conditions, (laser power density, scan speed, distance between paths, medium gas-air) were applied in the laser surface treatment, After laser treatment, the samples microstructures were investigated using optical microscope (OM) to examine micro structural changes due to laser irradiation. Specimen surfaces were investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), macro hardness, and corrosion test before and after laser treatment to examine the surface properties changes as a result of laser irradiation, and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Results showed that laser irradiation enhances the corrosion resistance of the metal copper. Corrosion rates as low as 0.550 mpy for laser treated samples were obtained in comparison to 0.699 mpy obtained for the untreated samples. The corrosion protection afforded by laser treatment is attributed mainly to the grain refinement of the top surface layer. This layer is found to consist of nano-scale grains. Higher hardness and lower average roughness due to laser surface treatment.