STRUCTURAL-CHANGES IN THE SURFACE OF TITANIUM CARBIDE AND TUNGSTEN CARBIDE HARD ALLOYS WITH NICKEL BINDER UPON EXPOSURE TO LASER-RADIATION

Pulsed laser action on cemented titanium carbide with nickel-chromium binder yields deep changes in its structure; and in the case of cement ed tungsten carbide with nickel binder, the structural change is accom panied by phase transformations in the hear-affected zone. Rr a result of these changes, layers with thickness 30-60 mu m and 30-60% greater hardness are formed. When the energy density of the laser radiation i s higher than 200 J/cm(2), thermal failure of cemented carbide surface s occurs (observed as crack formation).