Alhajhamoud Mohamad, Candan Levent, Ilgaz Mehmet Alp, Cinar Ibrahim, Ozbey Sayit, Čorović Selma, Miljavec Damijan, Kayahan Ersin
Biomedical Engineering, Natural and Applied Sciences, Kocaeli University, Umuttepe, Kocaeli 41380, Turkey.
Laser Technologies Research and Application Center (LATARUM), Kocaeli University, Yeniköy, Kocaeli 41275, Turkey.
Materials (Basel). 2022 Mar 18;15(6):2248. doi: 10.3390/ma15062248.
Laser welding is an innovative method that is frequently used and required by different disciplines and represents a technique of choice in a wide range of applications due to important advantages such as precision, speed, and flexibility. However, the welding method must be used properly otherwise it may deteriorate the mechanical properties of the welded metal and its environment. Therefore, the laser parameters should be precisely determined and carefully applied to the sample. The primary objective of this study was to investigate and propose optimal welding parameters that should be adjusted during the neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd: YAG)-pulsed laser welding of austenitic stainless steel 316L in an air welding environment by using Argon shielding gas and in wet welding settings in serum medium. The investigation of the welding process in serum medium was conducted in order to propose the most suitable welding parameters being important for future possible medical applications of laser welding in in-vivo settings and thus to investigate the possibilities of the welding process inside the human body. In order to evaluate the quality of welding in air and of wet welding (in serum), a detailed parameter study has been conducted by variation of the laser energy, the welding speed and the focal position. The relationship between the depth of penetration and specific point energy (SPE) was also evaluated. The microstructure of the welded metal was examined by an optical microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Based on the microscopy results, it was found that the largest depth of penetration (1380 µm) was achieved with 19 J laser energy in air medium, while the depth reached the largest value (1240 µm) in serum medium at 28 J laser energy. The increasing energy level showed opposite behavior for air and serum. The results of our study imply that when welding of 316L stainless steel is implemented properly in the body fluid, it would be a promising start for future in-vivo studies.
激光焊接是一种创新方法，被不同学科频繁使用和需要，由于其具有精度高、速度快和灵活性等重要优点，在广泛的应用中是一种首选技术。然而，必须正确使用焊接方法，否则可能会降低焊接金属及其周围环境的机械性能。因此，应精确确定激光参数并谨慎应用于样品。本研究的主要目的是通过使用氩气保护气体，在空气焊接环境以及血清介质中的湿法焊接设置下，研究并提出在掺钕钇铝石榴石（Nd:YAG）脉冲激光焊接奥氏体不锈钢316L过程中应调整的最佳焊接参数。在血清介质中进行焊接过程的研究，以便提出最合适的焊接参数，这对于激光焊接在体内环境中的未来可能的医学应用很重要，从而研究在人体内部进行焊接过程的可能性。为了评估空气焊接和湿法焊接（在血清中）的焊接质量，通过改变激光能量、焊接速度和焦点位置进行了详细的参数研究。还评估了熔深与比点能量（SPE）之间的关系。通过光学显微镜和扫描电子显微镜（SEM）检查了焊接金属的微观结构。基于显微镜检查结果，发现在空气介质中，19J激光能量时熔深最大（1380μm），而在血清介质中，28J激光能量时熔深达到最大值（1240μm）。能量水平的增加在空气和血清中的表现相反。我们的研究结果表明，当在体液中正确实施316L不锈钢的焊接时，这将是未来体内研究的一个有希望的开端。
