A strategy to reveal the laser ablation resistance mechanism of Cu-W alloy: experiments and simulations

ABSTRACT

Cu-W_70-90 (wt.%) alloys were prepared by infiltration method, and the laser ablation experiments were conducted. The laser ablation resistance mechanism of Cu-W alloy was revealed with the guidance of the mathematic model coupling heat and fluid flow. By comprehensively analysing the calculation and the experimental results, the laser spot generated giant heat which will vaporise and melt the alloy respectively close to and away from the centre of the laser spot. The vaporisation of the alloy and the temperature gradient opposite to the laser propagation direction will significantly affect the flow field and make the molten alloy splash around. It was also quantitively proven that the W-rich phases with a high melting point can significantly increase the ablation resistance of Cu-W alloy by decreasing the ablation depth. The calculation results present a relatively high accuracy, this work will thus contribute to the application of the mathematic models in the laser processing field.

KEYWORDS:

• Cu-W alloy
• ablation resistance
• heat and fluid flow

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the supports of Open Fund Project of Hubei Key Laboratory of Intelligent Transportation Technology and Device, Hubei Polytechnic University, China (No. 2022XZ108); The Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province (No. 2022CFB978) and The National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 52201038).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Prime novelty statement

The model coupling heat and fluid flow is employed to discuss the ablation resistance mechanism of Cu-W alloy.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 52201038].