Krzysztof Czyż

Laser micro-structuring of surfaces for applications in materials and biomedical science

Laser radiation is used, among others, for surface treatment of various materials. At the Institute of Optoelectronics, under the direction of the late Professor Jan Marczak, a number of works in the field of laser materials processing were performed. Among them special recognition deserves flagship work of Professor Jan Marczak: implementation in Poland laser cleaning method of artworks. Another big project involved the direct method of laser interference lithography. These two projects have already been widely discussed in many national and international scientific conferences. They will also be discussed at SLT2016. In addition to these two projects in the Laboratory of Lasers Applications many other works have been carried out, some of which will be separately presented at the SLT2016 Conference. These included laser decorating of ceramics and glass (three projects completed in cooperation with the Institute of Ceramics and Building Materials), interference structuring medical implants (together with the Warsaw University of Technology), testing the adhesion of thin layers (project implemented together with IFTR PAS), structuring layers of DLC for growing endothelial cells (together with IMMS PAS), engraving glass for microfluidic applications, metal marking, sapphire cutting and finally the production of microsieves for separating of blood cells.

The influence of environment on corrosion of cast iron and carbon steel representing samples of outdoor metal technical heritage

This paper presents the results of annual measurements of the corrosion progress at test samples of cast iron and carbon steel placed in different natural environments. Comparative tests were performed in two outdoor stations, one at the Railway Museum in central Warsaw and one at the location of a Railway Museum in the small town of Sochaczew, 50 km west of Warsaw. The influence of surface roughness on the development of corrosion was determined by two kinds of treatment of all sample surfaces − metal brush or grinding. Stratigraphy and composition of corrosion products in quarterly periods were analyzed with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and Raman laser spectroscopy. Comparative tests were performed using a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) system equipped with energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and micro-chemical analytical methods. The corrosion layers on carbon steel have proven to be thicker on average than on cast iron, and thicker on the brushed parts of both materials. Furthermore, a thicker corrosion layer was found on the cast iron test samples exposed in Sochaczew than in Warsaw. Different iron oxides, namely lepidocrocite, goethite, hematite and magnetite were identified in the surface Raman spectra of corrosion layers, the last compound only in the sample from Sochaczew. SEM EDS measurements of surface elemental concentrations showed a higher concentration of sulfur in all samples from Sochaczew. Registered LIBS spectra have been additionally analyzed with statistical approach, using Factorial Analysis (FA). Results generally confirmed conclusions drawn from SEM/Raman/LIBS results.

Microstructure and properties of laser interference crystallized amorphous FeSiB ribbon

Abstract The influence of Q-switched pulsed Nd:YAG laser interference heating, using 120 mJ of pulse energy and a variable number of consecutive pulses, on the microstructure and magnetic properties of amorphous Fe80Si11B9 alloy was examined. Microstructural analysis, using light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, was complemented by results of Mössbauer spectroscopy and measurement of magnetic properties (vibrating sample magnetometer). Periodically distributed crystallized micro-areas, ∼10 μm in diameter, in an amorphous matrix were produced by the treatments. Magnetization measurements showed that the as-cast ribbon and laser light irradiated samples are magnetically soft materials. The results lead to the conclusion that the dots corresponding to the laser modified regions exhibit a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy.

Analysis of deformation of aluminum plates under the influence of nano- and microsecond laser pulses

The paper presents numerical modeling of interaction of strong laser radiation with conventional aluminum sheets, similar to those used in military technology. The theoretical model uses equations of continuum mechanics (equations of hydrodynamics and the equations of mechanics of solid bodies in a cylindrical coordinates r, z), enriched with equations describing the typical effects of high temperature, such as absorption of laser radiation within the Al shield, electronic and radiative thermal conductivity, and energy loss on phase transitions (melting, evaporation, ionization). Semiempirical equations of state were used to describe the properties of material in the conditions of large deformation and the Johnson-Cook’s model. The equations were solved using the method of free points developed by one of the authors. Two kinds od laser pulses were considered: microsecond pulse with duration of 200 μs and a low peak power of 10 kW/cm2 (CW laser), and nanosecond pulse with duration of 10 ns and high peak power of 5 GW/cm2 (pulsed laser). The aim of this study was to determine the shapes and temperatures of Al plates under the influence of these pulses for the comparison of the numerical results with future experiments and to verify the possibility to determine the distribution of the energy density of the laser beam on the basis of the plate deformation.

LIBS spectra of multi-component Al, Fe, Cu alloys and composite materials used for selected elements of armament and munition

Spectral investigations in the UV-VIS range of selected Al, Cu, and Fe alloys and composite materials were performed using LIBS technique. The investigated objects were typical rifle cartridges, mortars, rocket launchers and samples of different type steel, Cu and Al alloys, as well as composite materials of special chemical composition. Two Nd:YAG lasers were applied: a short 4 ns, 60 mJ Brio Quantel/BigSky laser (1064 nm) and a long pulse 200/400 (up to 1000) µs (~ 2/4 up to 10 J) laser (1064 nm) constructed at the Institute of Optoelectronics MUT. This spectrochemical analysis was possible for Al, Cu, and Fe alloys objects for both lasers, and in case of composites only if the samples were irradiated by short laser pulse since in the experiment with the long pulse, all composite materials spectra, in general, were very similar to each other – they imitated a grey/black body spectra. For metal alloys in experiments with a short laser pulse only atomic spectra were observed while for long microsecond laser pulses molecular transitions have been registered for Al alloys. Electron temperatures of plasma created on different materials for short and long laser pulses were found on the base of Boltzmann plots. Temperatures are clearly higher for plasmas generated with a short laser pulse which results from much higher laser power density on the sample surface for short pulse and not from fluence which is 20-40 times larger for long pulse.

LIBS, optical and multivariate analyses of selected 17 th-century oil paintings from the Museum of King Jan III’s palace at Wilanów

The paper presents measurement results of LIBS and optical microscopy investigations applied to five 17th-century oil paintings, belonging to the collection of the Museum of King Jan III’s Palace at Wilanów. The analysis devoted to ground layers at depths of about 200 – 300 μm (40 – 60 laser pulses) allowed to find stratigraphy distributions of elements characteristic for ground layers. During the latest investigations, the researchers concentrated mainly on the comparison of some specific elements like Li, Ba, Ti which could indicate the origin of the pigment and help in the process of classification of the paintings. LIBS spectra analyses were supported by statistical factorial analyses which visibly confirmed conclusions drawn from spectral and optical microscopy research.

Modeling of remelting processes of metal targets using pulses of continuous laser with pre-impulses

The study presents preliminary results of theoretical analyses concerning interaction of quasi-cw laser radiation with an aluminium target. The range of laser power the authors were interested in was from 1 to 10 kW, and target thicknesses from 0.1 to 1 cm. It was also assumed that a laser beam diameter on the target (Al) was around 0.5 cm. A mathematicalphysical model of the phenomenon was based on the equation of conservation of energy (spatially one-dimensional model – (z,t)) taking into account: radiation absorption and transport inside the target, heat conduction, reflection of part of radiation from the target’s surface, and heat losses in the processes of melting and evaporation. Coefficients of light absorption and reflection from the target’s surface were described with semi-empirical expressions, which took into account their dependence on the temperature and density. Initially, a case of target static during heating was considered. Subsequently, the problem of enhancement of radiation interaction with the target (decrease of reflection coefficient) by the use of short (< 20 ns), high power pre-impulse was analyzed. The last case needed expansion of a set of equations with the continuity equation and the equation of motion, to take into account evaporation of target’s surface under influence of the pre-impulse. It was shown that thermal effect of the pre-impulse is practically not influencing final depths of target remelting. On the other hand, damage (matting) of the target’s surface by the pre-impulse, causing the decrease of reflection coefficient can have a substantial influence on the remelting depth.

Research on quasi-cw and pulse interaction of strong laser radiation with the military technical materials

The paper describes work connected to the investigation of the interaction of strong laser radiation with selected metals, constituting typical materials applied in military technology, like aluminum, copper, brass and titanium. A special laser experimental stand was designed and constructed to achieve this objective. The system consisted of two Nd:YAG lasers working in the regime of free generation (quasi-cw) and another Nd:YAG laser, generating short pre-pulses in the Qswitching regime. During the concurrent operation of both quasi-cw systems it was possible to obtain pulse energies amounting to 10 J in a time period (pulses) of 1 ms. The synchronized, serial operation resulted in energy amounting to 5 J over a time period (pulse) of 2 ms. Variations of the target’s surface reflection coefficient, caused by the interaction of short pre-pulses with high power density were determined. The experiments were performed using a standard Nd:YAG laser with amplifiers, generating output pulses whose duration amounted to 10 ns and energy to 1 J, with near Gaussian profile. Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was used to analyze the emission spectra of targets under the conditions of the interaction of destructive strong and weak as well as long and short excitation laser pulses. A decay of the spectra in the UV range from 200 to around 350 nm was observed when irradiating the target with a long, quasi-cw destructive pulse. Moreover, in the case of an Al target, some AlO molecular spectra appeared, suggesting a chemical reaction of the aluminum atoms with oxygen.