Study of aerosols generated by 213 nm laser ablation of cobalt-cemented hard metals

Study of aerosols generated by 213 nm laser ablation of cobalt-cemented hard metals

Peer-reviewed article not indexed in WoS or Scopus

Cobalt-cemented hard metals present an example of samples with a complicated matrix consisting of components differing in chemical and physical properties and with extremely low volatility of all components. The purpose of this study was to compare particle formation of a set of real samples with similar matrices but different content of major components. The laser ablation process was studied using a Q-switched quintupled (213 nm) nanosecond Nd:YAG laser. Five samples of Co-cemented tungsten carbides, actually WC-TiC-(Ta,Nb)C-Co with a varied content of main constituents, were selected as representatives of a family of 15 miscellaneous tungsten carbide hard metal products. Physical and chemical properties vary over this specimen selection and therefore the effect on particle size formation and distribution was expected. The size distributions by number of ablated particles in different size ranges were measured using an optical aerosol spectrometer. The results proved the relationship between particle formation and sample composition. The structure of laser generated particles and the properties of ablation-craters were additionally studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Spherical particles in the diameter range of 0.25 up to 2 mm and mm-sized agglomerates composed of primary nano-particles were observed. TheWand Co content in the aerosol particles was determined by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The volumes of ablation craters were measured by an optical profilometer. The laser ablation study of selected Co-cemented tungsten carbide hard metals indicates a similar total volume of formed particles with composition-dependent particle-size distributions.

Cobalt-cemented hard metals present an example of samples with a complicated matrix consisting of components differing in chemical and physical properties and with extremely low volatility of all components. The purpose of this study was to compare particle formation of a set of real samples with similar matrices but different content of major components. The laser ablation process was studied using a Q-switched quintupled (213 nm) nanosecond Nd:YAG laser. Five samples of Co-cemented tungsten carbides, actually WC-TiC-(Ta,Nb)C-Co with a varied content of main constituents, were selected as representatives of a family of 15 miscellaneous tungsten carbide hard metal products. Physical and chemical properties vary over this specimen selection and therefore the effect on particle size formation and distribution was expected. The size distributions by number of ablated particles in different size ranges were measured using an optical aerosol spectrometer. The results proved the relationship between particle formation and sample composition. The structure of laser generated particles and the properties of ablation-craters were additionally studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Spherical particles in the diameter range of 0.25 up to 2 mm and mm-sized agglomerates composed of primary nano-particles were observed. TheWand Co content in the aerosol particles was determined by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The volumes of ablation craters were measured by an optical profilometer. The laser ablation study of selected Co-cemented tungsten carbide hard metals indicates a similar total volume of formed particles with composition-dependent particle-size distributions.

213 nm laser ablation, LA-ICP-MS, cobalt-cemented hard metals, aerosols

213 nm laser ablation, LA-ICP-MS, cobalt-cemented hard metals, aerosols

HOLÁ, M.; -KONEČNÁ, V.; -MIKUŠKA, P.; -KAISER, J.; -PÁLENÍKOVÁ, K.; -PRŮŠA, S.; -HANZLÍKOVÁ, R.; -KANICKÝ, V.

2010

06.08.2008

0267-9477

JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL ATOMIC SPECTROMETRY

23

10

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

1341

1349

9