Main Sector of relevance\IRC classification 8. Industrial Manufacturing, Material and Transport Technologies


8.27 Laser quenching technology

Laser quenching technology

Developers’ contact information

State Scientific Institution “The Physical-Engineering Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus”, Metal Science Department, Laboratory for Microcrystalline and Amorphous Materials
10 Academician V.F.Kuprevich Street, Minsk BY-220141

V.S. Golubev, Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
Tel.: +375 (17) 263-51-24

Summary

Laser thermal treatment technology is based on the use of heat generated on metal surfaces when absorbing laser beams

Description

This laser quenching technology can be applied for a wide range of parts. The State Scientific Institution “Physics and Technology Institute of the Academy of Sciences of Belarus”, for instance, developed a laser hardening technology for suspension components (brackets, lug) of MAZ 6422 rear axle to prolong their service life by 3 times. What concerns “shaft-sleeve” type parts (Borisov plant “Avtohydrousilitel”), the value of operational necks hardness achieved is 60 HRC units with total part hardness of 40 HRC units, and etc.
Great prospects are opening for laser quenching in tool-building industry. Thus, quenching of cutting and cold heading tools, press and stamping accessories increases their durability by 3-5 times and more. The technology was tested at BelOMO, “Motovelo”, OJSC, Heavy stamps forging plant, Borisov plant “Avtohydrousilitel”, and etc. The 1.6–3.0 increase effect was observed for metal and wood cutting tools, including those with cartridges.
The Institute developed an alloy building process for forging dies involving 5XHM steel, which gives a durability gain by 3-4 times. Laser alloy-building method provides for obtaining 68-70 HRC units layers on steel and titanium alloys and 25-30 HRC units layers on aluminium alloys. The method proves to be efficient with such parts as fodder chopper cutting blades (Production Association “Gomselmash”), tunneling machine cutters (Production Association “Belaruskaliy”), and etc.

Technology type

Technical advantages and economic benefits

This laser treatment method has a number of advantages: improved quenching local properties (which provides for significant saving), no need to use cooling mediums, a possibility to apply this method as a finishing operation due to contraction risk absence, comprehensive prospects for process automation, and etc.

Technology differentiation and uniqueness

Context in which technology was identified

Russia.

Technological keywords

Laser quenching, alloy-building, parts, stamps.

Development Stage

Intellectual property rights

Range of applications

Manufacturing engineering, tool-building industry.

Classifier Used at the EU Innovation Relay Centres

Preferable Regions

Practical experience

The technology is introduced at a number of Belarusian enterprises.

Environmental impact

None.

Type of collaboration sought

Terms and restrictions

Available technical assistance