Excimer laser surface processing of materials

Many bulk properties of materials such as fracture strength and toughness are limited by their surface properties, and many surface properties of interest such as tribology and corrosion resistance are dependent on the microstructure and local chemistry of the surface. Virtually any metal, including refractories, can be melted by single excimer laser pulses enabling the formation of novel alloys. The ability to tailor the surface using excimer laser processing, microstructurally by controlled rapid solidification and chemically by alloying, has broad application. In this paper we will discuss the use of excimer laser light to drive thermally activated processes in surfaces of both metals and ceramics in order to alter the surface properties of the materials