Special Issue "Laser Surface Modification of Metal Material"

Dear Colleagues,

Surface integrity, materials control, design variable constraints, reliability, maintainability, production sustainability, and cost factors are some of the issues that are still limiting the total inclusiveness of surface modification in many industries.

Metallic component characteristics have been laser-surface-modified in the past using composite coatings such as metal matrix composites in a bid to enhance the surface properties. Instead of tampering with the whole microstructure of metallic components base structure, direct laser surface modification can be used to target and solve a particular problem. This will result in extended application of metallic components. The enhancement of components’ service life span can be achieved by fabricating metallic composite coatings. When there is failure of material due to exposure to environmental conditions, it can either be repaired or replaced for extended service life span. Laser surface modification techniques are another way of enhancing metallic materials’ properties compared to conventional methods. The direct laser surface modification technique has been identified as one of the most promising areas for producing engineering components. The process parameters used for these techniques have an impact on the structure and mechanical properties of a finished product. Quality parts cannot be produced until deep understanding of the technology is inculcated and the materials design is well understood. These require all the aforementioned process parameters to be optimized and materials selection decision making needs to be carried out right.

For laser surface modification of metallic materials to exhibit excellent properties, swift heating and solidification must play a part in the enhanced properties as a result of the complex nature of the process. This is because properties of materials are affected by temperature distribution.

Dr. Fatoba Olawale Samuel
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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• surface engineering
• rapid solidification
• heat transfer mechanism
• material processing
• surface properties
• laser metal deposition
• temperature gradient
• microstructure
• laser surface technique
• residual stresses
• physical properties