Cavitation erosion of steels processed by CO2 laser beams of various parameters

Cavitation erosion of structural carbon steel, corrosion resistant chromium steel and chromium–nickel austenitic steel processed superficially by high power CO2 laser beams of various parameters was investigated. Laser beams of various operating modes as well as densities and distributions of the power were used. The surface layers of the samples were melted up to 0.6 mm in depth. Cavitation tests were performed at the rotating disk facility. A dependence of the level of cavitation resistance of the processed materials on the processing beam parameters was discovered. The results are discussed with reference to mechanical and structural features of the manufactured surface layers.