Nanostructuring of Fe73.5Nb3Cu1Si15.5B7 amorphous alloy surface by laser-induced periodic structure formation

In this paper, we report about formation of laser-induced periodic surface structure LIPSS on amorphous Fe-based alloy. The HR-LIPSS was obtained using the femtosecond (266 fs) pulse laser irradiation with a wavelength of 1035 nm. SEM and AFM, as well as optical microscopic examinations with a digital camera, were used for surface topology investigation and LIPSS studies. Images obtained by SEM were analyzed using the DLOA method (Dispersion of LIPSS Orientation Angle) and HR (highly regular) LIPSS was identified. The DLOA of HR-LIPSS was measured as 7.5°. Parameters of laser irradiation were estimated for HR-LIPSS producing on the amorphous metallic ribbon. Amorphous ribbon structure after LIPSS formation was studied using the back-scattered X-ray diffraction method. No crystalline phases were detected on the ribbon surface after LIPSS forming on it; so, the ribbon kept an amorphous structure.