A Hybrid Laser Surface Treatment for Refurbishment of Stress Corrosion Cracking Damaged 304L Stainless Steel

The paper describes a new hybrid laser surface treatment approach, combining laser surface melting and laser shock peening treatments, for refurbishment stress corrosion cracking damaged type 304L stainless steel specimens. Hybrid laser surface treatment produced crack-free compressively stressed surface. With respect to as-machined specimens, laser-rejuvenated specimens demonstrated significantly reduced susceptibility to stress corrosion cracking in chloride environment with minor increase in mean surface roughness. The results of the study, although particularly applicable to shallow stress corrosion cracking damage, are important for life extension of in-service stainless steel components operating in corrosive chloride environment.