PULSED LASER SEALING OF PLASMA-SPRAYED LAYERS OF 8 WT PERCENT YTTRIA STABILIZED ZIRCONIA

Results are reported of the laser surface sealing of plasma-sprayed layers of 8 wt% yttria partially stabilized zirconia (YPSZ) using pulsed treatments with powers of 0.4 and 1 kW. The structural features of the processed material were examined for a range of laser processing parameters including preheating, processing temperature and power density. By controlling the processing parameters it was possible to produce pulsed laser sealed layers of similar, or even better, quality than those produced by a continuous wave laser.