There are many applications of laser surface engineering. The most common are shown in the table below.
| Process | Laser sources | Process description |
| Transformation hardening | CO 2 , Fibre, Disc, Nd:YAG, Diode | Produces local hardening with case-depth of 1ยต to 2mm, usually in steel |
| Shock hardening | CO 2 , Fibre, Nd:YAG, Disc, excimer | Induces shock waves at surface using pulses of laser energy to create a hardened layer |
| Laser glazing | CO 2 , Fibre, Disc, Nd:YAG, Diode, Excimer | Production of ultra-fine microstructures or glasses |
| Surface homogenisation | CO 2 , Fibre, Disc, Nd:YAG, Diode, Excimer | Microstructural refinement by re-melting |
| Cladding | CO 2 ,Fibre, Disc, Nd:YAG, Diode | Produces local fusion and deposition of a second material onto a surface |
| Surface alloying | CO 2 , Fibre, Nd:YAG, Disc, Diode | Selective local alloying to change surface properties, e.g. addition of C to steel, W or N to Ti, and Si to Al |
| Surface impregnation | CO 2 , Fibre, Nd:YAG, Disc, Diode | Fusion with addition of a solid fraction, e.g. tungsten carbides |
| Surface texturing | CO 2 , Fibre, Nd:YAG, Disc, CVL, excimer | Produces local change in surface texture, e.g. makes rougher, smoother or adds texture |
| Micro-joining | CVL. TEA, CO 2 | Very controlled surface texturing for special chemical or mechanical purposes |
| Photochemical modification | Excimer, CVL | Produces local changes for marking, better adhesive bonding or change of surface hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance |
| Stripping or ablation | Excimer, Fibre, TEA, CO 2 , Nd:YAG | Controlled removal of surface layers without altering the substrate, e.g. removing contaminated layers from nuclear materials |
| Surface refining | Excimer | Rapid, shallow melting to vaporise inclusions and impurities |
For a more specific look at any laser surfacing application, whether it be standard or a completely novel idea, please contact TWI laser_sheet@twi.co.uk
