Short and Ultrashort Laser Surface Processing of Alpha + Beta Titanium Alloy (Ti6Al4V): Present Status

The present contribution concerns application of short and ultrashort lasers on surface processing of Ti6Al4V. Followed by a brief introduction of different available short and ultra-short lasers and their interaction mechanism with the material surface, a detailed discussion on the surface processing of Ti6Al4V with short and ultrashort laser, especially surface texturing, surface structuring and shock peening, will be discussed in detail. Surface texturing aims at developing a periodic surface roughness with the aim of modifying surface energy, coefficient of friction and corrosion resistance property. Surface structuring is also an important technique for modifying the surface for the tailorment of coefficient of friction, bioactivity and corrosion resistance. Shock peening is aimed at introducing shock wave-assisted residual stress (compressive) for enhancement of fatigue property. For all the short and ultrashort laser-assisted surface processing, laser parameters like wavelength, pulse width, energy density, scan speed, frequency, and the number of pulses play a role in determining the characteristics and properties of the surface. In this article, a detailed study on laser surface texturing, laser structuring and laser shock peening of Ti6Al4V and influence on properties will be discussed in detail.