Nd:YAG laser hardening of AISI 410 stainless steel: Microstructural evaluation, mechanical properties, and corrosion behavior

In this paper, a pulsed Nd:YAG laser with a maximum power of 700 W, was utilised to investigate the laser surface hardening of AISI 410 martensitic stainless steel. Focal point position, scanning speed and pulse width were considered as process variable parameters. Corrosion behavior of laser surface hardened samples were investigated by IVIUMSTAT apparatus in a 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. Maximum microhardness, depth, and width of hardness and percentage of ferrite phase of metallographic and FESEM pictures were evaluated. Results show that surface hardness increased up to 762 HV. Results also reveal that the laser focal point position and pulse width are effective parameters in laser hardening process. In potentiodynamic polarization tests potential stated to increase at a rate of 1 mV/s from −0.4 V to 0.2 V. Results indicate that the corrosion resistance increased due to laser hardening process.