Titanium alloy surface modification by excimer laser irradiation

The main effects of the interaction of UV emitting KrCl (at 222 nm) and XeCl (at 308 nm) excimer lasers with titanium alloy Ti6Al4V are presented. Single-pulse and multi-pulse irradiations were used, with varying laser beam fluences. The resulting interactions with the surface show thermal character, and produce: (i) damages in the form of craters at higher pulse counts and fluences of 7 J cm−2 and 7.2 J cm−2, which are far above the damage threshold; (ii) melt pools with visible wave-like structures at periphery; (iii) resolidified droplets and cracks at periphery (at higher pulse count), (iv) increasing content of oxygen, with a domination of TiO2.