Surface modification of metals by high power lasers

Lasers are a powewful tool for the surface modification of metals in improving their corrosion and tribological properties. Due to their intrinsic characteristics, lasers can be focused onto metallic surfaces producing a broad range of treatments from heating to melting depending on the input energy. So, phase transformation on the surface of a base metal can be carried out to increase the surface hardness or cladding or alloying to obtain new materials. Other applications such as laser physical deposition (LPVD) or laser chemical deposition (LCVD) are also currently being carried out. In the present paper, a review of laser surface alloying and cladding on different base materials is given, focussing on the modification of the corrosion properties of metals and alloys for applications at low temperatures (electrochemical corrosion) and high temperatures (oxidation process). (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A.