Development of Laser Welding and Surface Treatment of Metals

Dear Colleagues,

Laser technologies of materials processing are being increasingly used in the laser device industry. This is the result of dynamic development in the field of the design and construction of laser devices, as well as in the improvement of technical parameters of laser devices and the characteristics of laser radiation.

One of the main areas of application of laser technologies is the welding and surface treatment of metals and alloys. Laser welding is advantageous, especially in the case of modern and advanced alloys, such ultra-high-strength steels (UHSS) and advanced high-strength steels (AHSS), as well as in modern stainless duplex and super duplex steels, nonferrous metals, and light metals such titanium and aluminium. The laser beam as a heat source in welding processes can provide high-power density and a low beam spot diameter, thus providing high penetration depth; high welding speed; and low, controllable heat input.

On the other hand, in the field of surface treatment, the flexibility of shaping laser beams can provide different beam spot profiles and sizes, and different beam spot energy distributions adjusted for controllable heating, melting, or evaporation of the substage material. Therefore, lasers are used in different processes of surface treatment such laser surface hardening (LSH), melting (LSM), shocking (LSS), texturing (LST), alloying (LSA), cladding (LSC), remelting (LSR), and for surface deposition (LSD) or in additive manufacturing for laser metal deposition (LMD) or selective laser sintering and melting (SLS/SLM).

The purpose of this Special Issue is to present the latest developments in the field of research on laser welding technologies and surface treatment technologies of metals and alloys.

The main topics of interest include but are not limited to the following:

- The study of laser welding technology of metals;

- The study of laser brazing/soldering of metals;

- The study of laser cladding of metals;

- The study of laser metal deposition;

- The study of laser melting and remelting of metals;

- The study of laser alloying of metals;

- The study of laser hardening of metals;

- The characterization of laser clads and surface layers produced on metal substrate;

- The study of structure and mechanical properties of laser welds of metals;

- The characterization of 3D laser-printed metal structures.

Prof. Dr. Aleksander Lisiecki
Guest Editor

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