Wave nature of the processes of high-speed mass transfer and local microalloying of laserhardened steels
The goal of this investigation was to research the nature of the formation of gradient and composite zones near non-metallic inclusions during laser treatment of the steels. The materials for investigation were commercial steels containing different non-metallic inclusions. The specimens of different steels were exposed to laser beaming on the installations GOS-30M. The research methods were applied: petrography, X-ray microscopy (MS-46 Cameca, “Nanolab – 7”) and optical microscopy (Neophot-31) to study steel matrix near non-metallic inclusions and to identify of the inclusions. Nanohardness of the steel matrix near inclusions (“Nano Indenter II”) was analyzed. Peculiarities of saturation of the steel matrix by elements of non-metallic inclusions during different regimes of laser action were investigated. It was shown the role of that process in the formation of local structure of steel matrix near non-metallic inclusions. The features of the formation of gradient and micro composite saturation zones of a steel matrix under conditions of abnormal mass transfer from nonmetallic inclusions during laser processing are discussed. The difference in the rates of abnormal mass transfer of chemical elements of non-metallic inclusions into a steel matrix at the moment of laser melting is shown.