Effect of polishing parameters on morphology of DF2 (AISI-O1) steel surface polished by Nd:YAG laser

Pulse Nd:YAG laser was used to polish DF2 cold work steel. Influence of irradiation parameters on the three-dimensional (3D) surface topography was studied by a 3D profilometer, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM). Results among the tests showed that when DF2 steel specimens were irradiated with parameters of (i) laser input energy P=1 J, (ii) pulse feedrate=300 mm min(-1), (iii) pulse duration PD=3 ms and (iv) pulse frequency f=20-25 Hz, the laser polishing of DF2 cold work steel seemed to be successful. The effect of laser polishing parameters on the laser polishing temperature was described and the analysis of the temperature field of laser polishing was herewith proposed initially. It demonstrated that for a given laser, the influence of the laser pulse feedrate was more prominent than that of other parameters on the topography of a laser polished surface. At a constant pulse duration and pulse frequency, the polishing temperature was increased with the increase in laser input energy and the decrease in the pulse feedrate.