Laser ablation of stainless steel in external electric field (up to 10 kV/cm) is experimentally studied. The dependencies of both morphology and chemical properties of surface structures on laser parameters and electric field strength are investigated. Surface wettability properties of the laser-treated samples are considered by means of contact angle measurement. It is shown that under certain conditions laser irradiation in external electric field can render the surface superhydrophobic. Influence of electric field on the laser surface treatment is discussed on basis of its impact on melt solidification and oxidation processes.

Stainless steel surface wettability control via laser ablation in external electric field

The influence of an electric field upon the directional solidification of hypoeutectic and hypereutectic Sn-Pb composite alloys was studied. Equations were derived to account for the effect of electrotransport of solute in the liquid upon the solid composite composition. Experimental results support the theoretical predictions. Mixing in the liquid is more strongly influenced by unstable solute gradients than by current induced convection. Electrotransport shows limited promise as a method for control of the volume fraction fibre phase in the preparation of aligned composites by directional solidification.

https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/BF02403535.pdf

J. C. Warner

Papers

The effect of an electric field on the solidification of off-eutectic tin-lead composite alloys