Advances in Optical TechnologiesVolume 2012 (2012), Article ID 593893, 6 pagesdoi:10.1155/2012/593893

Research Article

Infrared Camera Analysis of Laser Hardening

J. Tesar, P. Vacikova, O. Soukup, and S. Houdkova

New Technologies-Research Centre, University of West Bohemia, Univerzitni 8, 30614 Plzeň, Czech Republic

Received 10 August 2012; Accepted 5 November 2012

Academic Editor: Antoni Rogalski

Copyright © 2012 J. Tesar et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

The improvement of surface properties such as laser hardening becomes very important in present manufacturing. Resulting laser hardening depth and surface hardness can be affected by changes in optical properties of material surface, that is, by absorptivity that gives the ratio between absorbed energy and incident laser energy. The surface changes on tested sample of steel block were made by engraving laser with different scanning velocity and repetition frequency. During the laser hardening the process was observed by infrared (IR) camera system that measures infrared radiation from the heated sample and depicts it in a form of temperature field. The images from the IR camera of the sample are shown, and maximal temperatures of all engraved areas are evaluated and compared. The surface hardness was measured, and the hardening depth was estimated from the measured hardness profile in the sample cross-section. The correlation between reached temperature, surface hardness, and hardening depth is shown. The highest and the lowest temperatures correspond to the lowest/highest hardness and the highest/lowest hardening depth.

1. Introduction

Laser hardening is one of the modern possibilities of improving surface properties of the metallic materials. It is a characteristic of the laser surface hardening process that the material is rapidly heated to a high temperature by guiding the laser beam across the workpiece surface. Short times of interaction between the laser beam and the workpiece surface cause that the absorbed energy is concentrated only at the workpiece surface, whereas the core remains cold. The removal of heat from the surface layer to the colder unaffected metal of a machine part permits rapid cooling and formation of a hardened microstructure required at the workpiece surface.

Parts of hardened surface can be manufactured separately each with different final properties. The final hardness and hardening depth depend primarily on the beam irradiance on the surface of the workpiece, the processing rate, and the thermophysical properties of the material. A low interaction time and a high power result in a shallow hardening depth whereas the converse results in a deeper hardening depth [1]. The parameter that can affect the final properties is the amount of energy accepted from the incident laser beam. This can be changed by corrections of optical properties of the surface absorptivity. The influence of different types of absorbing coatings on specimen surfaces and measurement of IR radiation with a photodiode was presented in [2]. The depth of hardening with and without different coatings was compared in [3]; the connection between surface temperature and absorptivity was emphasized. An infrared camera was used in [4] for process characterization, control, and temperature field monitoring.

An infrared camera ThermaCAM SC3000 was used in [5] for temperature fields measurements during hardening of a cylinder rotating under a laser beam (CO₂, 1.5 kW, 10.6 μm). The view of the camera was under angle of 30° from the laser beam. The emissivity was set to the value of 0.88, corresponding to the applied surface coating, which was used to improve absorptivity.

The same camera but under angle of 53° from the laser beam of direct diode laser (Nuvonix ISL-4000L, 4 kW, and 805 nm) was used in [6]. The emissivity of the sample was estimated during the heating with the propane torch in order to see how emissivity changes with temperature.

In this work an engraving laser is used to obtain surfaces with different optical properties that depend on the parameters of the engraving laser—its wavelength, energy, repetition frequency, and scanning velocity (velocity of laser moving). The emissivity for the IR camera measurement is estimated after experiment from an image of infrared camera (thermogram) of the sample that is heated on a hot plate.

The aim of this work is to demonstrate that due to different parameters of engraving laser (repetition frequency and scanning velocity) are reached different surface temperatures by laser hardening caused by different absorptivity on engraved surfaces. The surface temperature has a direct connection with hardening depth and hardness distribution [2, 3, 5]. This way is possible to control surface hardness and hardening depth without change of hardening laser power, for example, for precise hardening of small details on the processed surface.

2. Theoretical Assumptions

Incident, reflected, absorbed, and transmitted fluxes are connected together by energy conservation law. From this fact can be deduced that the sum of optical properties reflectivity , absorptivity , and transmissivity equals one [7]: For an opaque object without transmission the relation (1) simplifies Kirchhoff’s law provides a link between the absorption and emission processes and thus between emissivity and absorptivity These relations are valid for similar spectral or total spectral condition.

In this case there are three sets of optical properties (three different wavelengths) for that Kirchhoff’s law is valid. The three wavelengths are wavelength of engraving laser 1064 nm, wavelength of hardening laser 808 nm, and the range of infrared camera 7.5–13 μm. This means that, for example, emissivity of surface in range of infrared camera has no direct connection with absorptivity on wavelength of hardening laser .

3. Experimental Settings

The investigated sample is a block of steel 95MnWCr5 of dimensions  mm with 30 squares of size  mm made by laser engraving on the surface of the largest side. The engraving was made with different repetition frequency of laser and scanning velocity. Marking-Laser System BLS-100 (SHT) was used. It contains pulsed Nd:YAG laser of wavelength 1064 nm. The parameters of engraving make a matrix with repetition frequencies of 2, 5, 7, 15, 30, and 80 kHz and scanning velocities of 20, 50, 100, 300, and 500 mm/s—see Figure 1.

Figure 1: Arrangement of engraved squares on the sample surface.

This sample then undergoes laser hardening with continuous HPDD (high power direct diode) laser HighLight ISL-4000L (Coherent). The laser working head is placed on the robotic arm (Figure 2, photo on Figure 3). It works on wavelength  nm and the maximal possible power is 4 kW. The laser spot has rectangular shape of dimensions  mm with Gaussian energetic profile on the 6 mm long side and uniform energetic profile on the longer side. The distance between laser head and sample is 12 cm. The laser treating consists of six tracks. The first track begins on square made with highest repetition frequency (80 kHz) and scanning velocity of engraving (500 mm/s) and continues with squares of lower scanning velocity—see Figure 1. Next tracks are columns of lower repetition frequencies.

Figure 2: Scheme of laser hardening arrangement-laser head on the robotic arm, computer controlled infrared camera on a tripod, and investigated sample.

Figure 3: Photo of laser hardening arrangement— laser head on the robotic arm, infrared camera, and investigated sample.

The process of laser hardening is measured with computer controlled infrared camera system ThermaCAM SC2000 by company FLIR—photo in Figure 3. It measures emitted infrared radiation in the wavelength range 7.5–13 μm and depicts it in a form of temperature field of measured object surface with resolution pixels (uncooled microbolometer FPA detector). The infrared camera has measurement accuracy ±2%, temperature resolution 0.1°C, and range from −40°C up to +2000°C divided into three regions. The first region, intended for room temperatures, ranges from −40°C to +120°C, the middle from 80°C to 500°C and region for very high temperatures from 350°C up to 2000°C. The camera is placed on a tripod mount and grips with the laser beam angle approximately of 45°. This position is chosen to prevent damaging IR camera by the laser beam reflected from the sample. Another reason is that the laser spot and hot trace are clearly seen and the laser head is not visible in the infrared image.

4. Measurement

Each engraved square has a different value of emissivity and these values are not known so the emissivity value of the whole image is set to in the infrared camera. Emissivities are set to correct values by postprocessing. The filter (temperature range) from 350°C to 2000°C is selected. The value of distance between camera and sample is set to 0.5 m and atmospheric and ambient temperatures to 23°C. The recording of thermograms (images captured by infrared camera) runs with frequency of 50 Hz. After the end of laser hardening one image is captured with a filter suitable for room temperatures. The treating laser moves with velocity 1200 mm/min and works with power of 60% in the first column (80 kHz of engraving laser) and with 70% in other cases. The sample surface after laser hardening of all columns is shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4: The sample surface after laser hardening.

After laser hardening the emissivity of all engraved squares was measured using a method of known (constant) temperature. The surface in surroundings of engraved squares was painted with a color of known emissivity and the sample was placed on electrically heated plate. After temperature stabilizing (at 220°C) a thermogram was captured and the emissivities of engraved areas were determined from equality of temperatures. This proved that every engraved square has different emissivity strongly dependent on parameters of engraving (Table 1).

Table 1: Emissivities of engraved areas in the range of infrared camera 7.5–13 μm.

f (kHz)/v (mm/s)
2
5
7
15
30
80

500
0.80
0.71
0.70
0.79
0.90
0.16

300
0.75
0.71
0.75
0.73
0.86
0.21

100
0.69
0.80
0.84
0.83
0.75
0.40

50
0.77
0.82
0.85
0.88
0.80
0.60

20
0.85
0.89
0.92
0.95
0.90
0.79

The whole sample was cut to 30 pieces according to engraved squares after the determination of emissivity and analyzed on automatic microhardness testing system OmniMet MHT (Buehler). Surface hardness HV10 was analyzed and the hardening depth was determined from the profile of microhardness HV0.3 in the sample cross-section.

5. Postprocessing

The infrared images of laser hardening were recorded and saved in the form of sequences and one single IR image of hot sample after laser hardening. All sequences and images were evaluated in software ThermaCAM Researcher. The postprocessing procedure started with the single image that was captured with a filter suitable for room temperatures immediately after the end of laser hardening. The sample remained a little hot so the engraved squares with different emissivities and all details were clearly seen (Figure 5).

Figure 5: The thermogram of the sample captured with filter for room temperatures immediately after laser hardening.

It was much easier to place single analyzed points with corresponding emissivities to correct places (into the centre of engraved squares) in this picture than in picture of laser hardening made with filter for high temperatures.

With correctly placed analyzed points were loaded six sequences of laser hardening (Figure 6). Each sequence corresponds to one column (engraving laser repetition frequency) and was evaluated separately.

Figure 6: Thermogram of the sample during second track of laser hardening, analyzed points.

The temporal dependence of temperatures from these points for the second run of hardening laser (30 kHz of engraving laser) is shown in Figure 7. The time consequence of temperature peaks of analyzing points in centers of engraved squares is clearly seen. Each temperature temporal dependence curve begins with increase of temperature then continues short peak and then with an exponential decrease of temperature. The minimum of temperature that can be measured with IR camera using measurement range for region of high temperatures is 215°C.

Figure 7: Temporal dependence of maximal temperatures in engraved areas for second run of hardening laser.

From curves of Figure 7 (500–50 mm/s) could be seemed that the maximal values of temperature increase with decreasing emissivity of the engraved squares shown in Table 1. But it is not true. The maximal temperature depends on the amount of absorbed energy brought in the material by hardening laser that is not equal for all squares because of different absorptivity on the wavelength of 808 nm. This absorptivity has no direct connection with emissivity on the wavelength range of infrared camera 7.5–13 μm.

6. Results

In Figure 8 is shown that the maximal temperature 1505°C was reached on the square with parameters of engraving laser of 20 mm/s and 15 kHz and the lowest temperature 1070°C with parameters 500 mm/s and 30 kHz.

Figure 8: Maximal temperatures reached on the engraved squares during run of hardening laser.

Absolutely the lowest temperature 901°C was reached with parameters 300 mm/s and 80 kHz but whole this column (80 kHz) was made with power of hardening laser 60% and other columns with power 70%. From Figure 8 it can be also seen that maximal temperature is reached on the squares that were made with the lowest scanning velocity of engraving laser 20 mm/s and the minimal temperature on squares made with scanning velocity 500 mm/s. This is valid with exception of the run of hardening laser with lower power.

The measured surface hardness HV10 and the hardening depth of analyzed squares made with repetition frequency of engraving laser 30 kHz (second track of hardening laser) are depicted in Figure 9. The maximal reached temperatures are written above each column corresponding to the scanning velocity of engraving laser.

Figure 9: The dependence of surface hardness and hardening depth after HPDD laser hardening on scanning velocity of engraving laser by repetition frequency of 30 kHz.

Surface hardness was determined from averaging of five measurements on different places of hardened square surface. The hardening depth was estimated according to big change of hardness values in depth profile (Figure 10) and verified with visual measurement of the sample cross-section on digital microscope Hirox KH-7700 (Hirox) (Figure 11).

Figure 10: The microhardness depth profile on the sample cross-section of the square that was engraved with parameters 30 kHz and 300 mm/s.

Figure 11: The enlarged picture of the sample cross-section through the square with parameters 30 kHz and 300 mm/s made by optical microscope Hirox. There are marked depths of regions with changed structure (270 μm) and temperature affected area (816 μm).

The value of hardening depth (square with parameters 30 kHz and 300 mm/s) was estimated to 846 μm because in this depth occurred a big decrease of microhardness HV0.3 from value 431 (depth 846 μm) to value 239 (depth 910 μm).

The hardening depth correlates with the reached temperature; higher temperature means bigger depth of hard material [2, 3]. The results of hardness measurement and measurement of hardening depth in connection with surface temperature measured during laser hardening by infrared camera agree with conclusions stated in [2, 3]. Exception makes only temperature 1330°C (square 100 mm/s) when the Vickers hardness should be lower and hardening depth higher than in case of temperature 1256°C (square 50 mm/s) (Figure 12).

Figure 12: The dependence of surface hardness and hardening depth on the temperature reached on squares made by engraving laser by repetition frequency of 30 kHz.

The higher surface hardness by lower surface temperatures (Figure 12) is caused by higher cooling rate to bulk material. The cooling rate by higher surface temperatures is lower because the bulk material has higher temperature in the same depth due to bigger amount of absorbed laser energy. Higher temperature in the depth of material results in higher hardening depth by higher surface temperatures.

7. Conclusion

The possibilities of using engraving laser to affect surface absorption of hardening laser were shown in this contribution. The differences in absorptivity cause big differences in surface temperature that is measured with an infrared camera during laser hardening process. Reached surface temperature is directly connected with hardness and hardening depth. Maximal temperatures of all squares are determined and compared together. The result is that the maximal temperature increases with decreasing scanning velocity of engraving laser. The column with repetition frequency of engraving laser 30 kHz was selected for detailed analysis. Hardness and hardening depth estimated from the hardness profile in the sample cross-section were evaluated. The hardening depth was verified by optical microscope. The results prove that the higher surface temperature reached by laser hardening means bigger depth of hard material and lower surface hardness.

Acknowledgments

This paper is based upon work sponsored by the Project no. SGS-2010-083 of the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen. The result was developed within the CENTEM Project, reg. no. CZ.1.05/2.1.00/03.0088, that is cofunded from the ERDF within the OP RDI program of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of Czech Republic. The authors of the paper do not have a direct financial relation with the mentioned commercial identities.

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