ZINC ELECTRODEPOSITION ASSISTED BY A PULSED YAG LASER-BEAM - EFFECTS OF HYDRODYNAMIC CONDITIONS

The effect of a pulsed laser beam (YAG at 532 nm) on zinc deposition in a sulfate medium is studied. The deposition was carried out either in stagnant conditions or under forced laminar or turbulent convection of the electrolyte solution. The effect of pulse laser irradiation was investigated in terms of current density enhancement under controlled potential; it was also observed through the change in the deposits's morphology. The sharp temperature increase of the substrate surface, due to pulsed irradiation, results in higher current densities, a reduction in grain size, and coalescence phenomena corresponding to zinc diffusion into the zinc substrate. The influence of electrode potential, zinc sulfate concentration, and flow velocity is discussed: circulation of the solution is shown to hinder the laser effect due to the quenching of the zinc surface.