Fabrication of micro-scale textured grooves on green ZrO2 ceramics by pulsed laser ablation

The green ZrO2 ceramics were fabricated by cold isostatic pressing. Pulsed laser ablation with a wavelength of 1064 nm was performed to fabricate micro-scale textured grooves on the surface of green ZrO2 ceramics. The influence of laser parameters on surface quality was studied. The heat-affected zone around the machined grooves and micromorphology of laser-irradiated surface were investigated. Results showed that micro-scale textured grooves with a width of 30-50 µm and a depth of 15-50 µm on the green ZrO2 ceramic surfaces were successfully fabricated by pulsed laser ablation. The laser parameters had a profound influence on the surface quality of micro-scale textured grooves. Better surface quality could be obtained with frequency below 40 Hz, power below 6 W, and scanning velocity above 200 mm/s. A sintering layer was found on the laser-irradiated surfaces when frequency was above 60 Hz, power was above 10 W, and scanning velocity was below 150 mm/s. Analysis of this sintering layer revealed clear melting and resolidification of ZrO2 particles.