LASER SURFACE MODIFICATION OF TITANIUM ALLOYS — A REVIEW

Recent developments of laser surface modification of titanium alloys for increasing their corrosion, wear and oxidation resistance are introduced. The effects of laser processing parameters on the resulting surface properties of titanium alloys are reviewed. The problems to be solved and the prospects in the field of laser modification of Ti alloys are discussed. Due to the intrinsic properties, a laser beam can be focused onto the metallic surface to produce a broad range of treatments depending on the input energy. Thus, composite strengthening coatings can be fabricated by the methods of laser alloying, cladding, pulse laser deposition (PLD), etc., which are promising techniques of producing a layer of new materials on the surface of titanium alloys.