Surface Modification of Metallic Materials Using Laser and Plasma Technologies

This paper explores three different methods for improving the surface properties of various materials based on laser and plasma technologies. In the first study, electrochemically deposited gold on the surface of commercially pure titanium was remelted using a laser, resulting in the formation of a mechanically robust surface containing the intermetallic Ti3Au. This surface also showed improved roughness and biocompatibility, making it well-suited for biomedical applications. Similarly in the second study, laser surface texturing of Ti6Al4V was followed by the deposition of a ZnO thin film using atomic layer deposition (ALD) technology. This resulted in a surface that was more corrosion resistant and had enhanced tribological properties, making it ideal for use in various but mainly biomedical applications. Finally, the third study explored the use of powder plasma transferred arc welding (PPTAW) technology to coat the surface of structural steel with a nickel-based MMC containing WC reinforcement. This coating significantly improved the abrasive wear performance of the steel substrate. These studies demonstrate the effectiveness of various surface modification techniques for improving the properties of different materials and highlight the potential for these techniques in a range of nowadays advanced applications.