Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jkksz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T11:35:44.713Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Effect of nature and pressure of ambient environments on the surface morphology, plasma parameters, hardness, and corrosion resistance of laser-irradiated Mg-alloy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 April 2015

Asadullah Dawood
Affiliation:
Centre for Advanced Studies in Physics (CASP), Government College University Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
Shazia Bashir*
Affiliation:
Centre for Advanced Studies in Physics (CASP), Government College University Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
Mahreen Akram
Affiliation:
Centre for Advanced Studies in Physics (CASP), Government College University Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
Asma Hayat
Affiliation:
Centre for Advanced Studies in Physics (CASP), Government College University Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
Sajjad Ahmed
Affiliation:
Centre for Advanced Studies in Physics (CASP), Government College University Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
Muhammad Hassan Iqbal
Affiliation:
Centre for Advanced Studies in Physics (CASP), Government College University Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
Ali Hassan Kazmi
Affiliation:
Centre for Advanced Studies in Physics (CASP), Government College University Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Shazia Bashir, Centre for Advanced Studies in Physics (CASP), Government College University Lahore, Katchery Rd, Lahore 54000, Pakistan. E-mail: shaziabashir@gcu.edu.pk

Abstract

The influence of nature and pressure of ambient environment on the surface modification, plasma parameters, hardness, and corrosion resistance of Mg-alloy has been investigated. Nd: YAG laser (1064 nm, 10 ns, 25 mJ) at a fluence of 1.3 J cm−2 has been employed as an irradiation source. Targets of Mg-alloy were exposed in the ambient environments of argon (Ar), neon (Ne), and helium (He) at pressures ranging from 5 to 760 Torr. Scanning electron microscope has been employed to investigate the surface morphology of the irradiated targets. It reveals the formation of cavities, cones, droplets, ripples, and islands on the surface of the irradiated sample. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy technique was employed to measure electron temperature (Te) and electron number density (Ne) of Mg-alloy. The value of electron temperature ranges from 6628 to 12,855 K, whereas the value of electron number density varies from 5.4 × 1017 to 19.2 × 1017 cm−3. The maximum Te and Ne are observed in Ar and minimum in case of He. It was also revealed that both the surface morphology and plasma parameters are strongly dependent upon nature and pressure of environmental gases. The maxima of Te is achieved at a pressure of 10 Torr for all the three ambient environments that is, Ar, Ne, and He; whereas maxima of Ne is achieved at different pressures, that is, at 760 Torr for Ar, at 200 Torr for Ne, and at 50 Torr for He. The hardness and corrosion resistance of irradiated Mg-alloy have been explored using Vickers Micro-hardness tester and Potentio-dynamic polarization technique, respectively. It was investigated that as compared with un-irradiated target, the hardness as well as corrosion resistance of the laser-irradiated target has been increased significantly in all environments. Plasma parameters, mechanical, and electrical properties of laser-irradiated Mg-alloy have been correlated with induced surface modifications and are strongly influenced by environmental conditions.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Akram, M., Bashir, S., Hayat, A., Mahmood, K. & Ahmad, R. (2014). Effect of laser irradiance on the surface morphology and laser induced plasma parameters of zinc. Laser Part. Beams, 32, 119128.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bashir, S., Farid, N., Mahmood, K. & Rafique, M.S. (2012). Influence of ambient gas and its pressure on the laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and the surface morphology of laser-ablated Cd. Appl. Phys. A, 107, 203212.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bleiner, D. & Bogaerts, A. (2006). Multiplicity and contiguity of ablation mechanisms in laser-assisted analytical micro-sampling. Spectrochim. Acta B, 61, 421432.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chrisey, D.B., Hubler, G.K. (1994). Pulsed Laser Deposition of Thin Films. New York: John Willey & Sons.Google Scholar
Cowpe, J.S., Pilkington, R.D., Astin, J.S. & Hill, A.E. (2009). The effect of ambient pressure on laser-induced silicon plasma temperature, density and morphology. J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys., 42, 165202.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cremers, D.A. (2014). Space Applications of LIBS. Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cristoforetti, G., Giacomo, A.D., Aglio, M.D., Lennaioli, S., Togoni, E., Palleschi, V. & Omenetto, N. (2010). Local thermodynamic equilibrium in laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy: Beyond the McWhirter criteria. Spectrochim. Acta B, 65, 8695.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dauscher, A., Feregotto, V., Cordier, P. & Thomy, A. (1996). Laser induced periodic surface structures on iron. Appl. Surf. Sci., 96–98, 410414.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Diwakar, P.K. (2014). Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy for Analysis of Aerosols. Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag.Google Scholar
Dolgaev, S.I., Fernandez-Pradas, J.M., Morenza, J.L., Serra, P. & Shafeev, G.A. (2006). Growth of large micro cones in steel under multi pulsed Nd: YAG laser irradiation. Appl. Phys. A, 83, 417420.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Farid, N., Bashir, S. & Mahmood, K. (2012). Effect of ambient gas conditions on laser-induced copper plasma and surface morphology. Phys. Scr., 85, 015702015709.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Farid, N., Harilal, S., Ding, H. & Hassanein, A. (2014). Emission features and expansion dynamics of nanosecond laser ablation plumes at different ambient pressures. J. Appl. Phys., 115, 033107.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gondal, M.A. & Dastageer, M.A. (2014). Elemental Analysis of Soils by Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy. Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Griem, H.R. (1997). Principles of Plasma Spectroscopy. UK: Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hafeez, S., Shaikh, N.M., Rashid, B. & Baig, M.A. (2008). Plasma properties of laser-ablated strontium target. J. Appl. Phys., 103, 083117083124.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harilal, S., Farid, N., Freeman, J., Diwakar, P., LaHaye, N. & Hassanein, A. (2014). Background gas collisional effects on expanding fs and ns laser ablation plumes. Appl. Phys. A, 117, 319326.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harilal, S.S., Bindhu, C.V., Issac, R.C., Nampoori, V.P.N. & Vallabhan, C.P.G. (1997). Electron density and temperature measurements in a laser produced carbon plasma. J. Appl. Phys., 82, 21402146.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harilal, S.S., Bindhu, C.V., Nampoori, V.P.N. & Vallabhan, C.P.G. (1998 a). Temporal and Spatial behavior of electron density and temperature in a laser produced plasma from YBa2Cu3O7. Appl. Spectrosc., 52, 449455.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harilal, S.S., Bindhu, C.V., Nampoori, V.P.N. & Vallabhan, C.P.G. (1998 b). Influence of ambient gas on the temperature and density of laser produced carbon plasma. Appl. Phys. Lett., 72, 167169.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hark, R.R. & Harmon, R.S. (2014). Geochemical Fingerprinting Using LIBS. Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Huang, M., Zhao, F., Cheng, Y., Xu, N. & Xu, Z. (2010). The morphological and optical characteristics of femtosecond laser-induced large-area micro/nanostructures on GaAs, Si and Brass. Opt. Express, 18, A600A619.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Huddlestone, R.H. & Leonard, S.L. (1965). Plasma Diagnostic Techniques. New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Hull, D. & Bacon, D.J. (2011). Introduction to Dislocations. UK: Oxford.Google Scholar
Iida, Y. (1990). Effects of atmosphere on laser vaporization and excitation processes of solid samples. Spectrochim. Acta B, 45, 13531367.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kalsoom, U.I., Bashir, S., Ali, N., Akram, M., Mahmood, K. & Ahmad, R. (2012). Effect of ambient environment on excimer laser induced micro and nano-structuring of stainless steel. Appl. Surf. Sci., 261, 101109.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kaufman, V. & Martin, W.C. (1990). Wavelength and Energy Level Classification of Magnesium Spectra for all Stages of Ionization (Mg I through Mg XII). Gaithersburg: National Institute of Standards and Technology.Google Scholar
Khalfaoui, W., Valerio, E., Masse, J.E. & Autric, M. (2010). Excimer laser treatment of ZE41 magnesium alloy for corrosion resistance and micro hardness improvement. Opt. Lasers. Eng., 48, 926931.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Khan, S., Bashir, S., Hayat, A. & Khaleeq-ur-Rahman, M. (2013). Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy of tantalum plasma. Phys. Plasmas, 20, 073104.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Körner, C., Mayerhofer, R., Hartmann, M. & Bergmann, H.W. (1996). Physical and material aspects in using visible laser pulses of nanosecond duration for ablation. J. Appl. Phys. A, 63, 123131.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Legnaioli, S., Lorenzetti, G., Pardini, L., Cavalcanti, G.H. & Palleschi, V. (2014). Applications of LIBS to the Analysis of Metals. Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liu, Y., Jiang, M.Q., Yang, G.W., Guan, Y.J. & Dai, L.H. (2011). Surface rippling on bulk metallic glass under nanosecond pulse laser ablation. Appl. Phys. Lett., 99, 91902.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lacroix, D., Jeandel, G. & Boudot, C. (1997). Spectroscopic characterization of laser-induced plasma created during welding with a pulsed Nd: YAG laser. J. Appl. Phys., 81, 65996606.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Majumdar, J.D., Galun, R., Mordike, B. & Manna, I. (2003). Effect of laser surface melting on corrosion and wear resistance of a commercial magnesium alloy. Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 361, 119129.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mondal, A.K., Kumar, S., Blawert, C. & Dahotre, N.B. (2008). Effect of laser surface treatment on corrosion and wear resistance of ACM 720 Mg alloy. Surf. Coat. Technol., 202, 31873198.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moros, J., Fortes, F.J., Vadillo, J.M. & Laserna, J.J. (2014). LIBS Detection of Explosives in Traces. Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nakimana, A., Tao, H., Camino, A., Gao, X., Hao, Z. & Lin, J. (2012). Effect of ambient pressure on femtosecond laserinduced breakdown spectroscopy of Al in Argon. Presented at the International Conference on Optoelectronics and Microelectronics (ICOM), pp. 146150. Changchun, Jilin: IEEE.Google Scholar
Phipps, C. (2007). Laser Ablation and Its Applications. New York: Springer Science.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reader, J., Corliss, C.H., Wiese, W.L. & Martin, G.A. (1980). Wavelengths and Transition Probabilities for Atoms and Atomic Ions. Washington DC: Center for Radiation Research, National Measurement Laboratory, National Bureau of Standards.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Salik, M., Hanif, M., Wang, J. & Zhang, X.Q. (2014). Spectroscopic characterization of laser-ablated manganese sulfate plasma. Laser Part. Beams, 32, 137144.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shaheen, M.E., Gagnon, J.E. & Fryer, B.J. (2013). Femtosecond laser ablation of brass in air and liquid media. J. Appl. Phys. 113, 213106.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shaikh, N.M., Hafeez, S. & Baig, M.A. (2007). Comparison of zinc and cadmium plasma parameters produced by laser-ablation. Spectrochim. Acta B, 62, 13111320.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shaikh, N.M., Rashid, B., Hafeez, S., Jamil, Y. & Baig, M.A. (2006). Measurement of electron density and temperature of a laser-induced zinc plasma. J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys., 39, 13841391.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sabbaghzadeh, J., Dadras, S. & Torkamany, M. (2007). Comparison of pulsed Nd: YAG laser welding qualitative features with plasma plume thermal characteristics. J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys., 40, 1047.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Warcholinski, B. & Gilewicz, A. (2009). Tribological properties of CrNx coatings. J. Achiev. Mater. Manuf. Eng., 37, 498504.Google Scholar
Weyl, G. M. (1989). Physics of laser-induced breakdown. In Laser-induced plasmas and applications (Dekker, M., ed.), pp. 159. New York: CRC Press.Google Scholar
Yousaf, D., Bashir, S., Akram, M., kalsoom, U.I. & Ali, N. (2013). Laser irradiation effects on the surface, structural and mechanical properties of Al–Cu alloy 2024. Radiat. Eff. Defects, 169, 144156.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yu, J.J. & Lu, Y.F. (1999). Laser-induced ripple structures on Ni–P substrates. Appl. Surf. Sci., 148, 248252.CrossRefGoogle Scholar