LASER CONTROL OF STEEL CORROSION

The effect of different natural and laboratory ambients on the corrosi on rate of carbon steel SAE 1010, 1030 and 1070 submited to thermal tr eatments with an industrial 200-2000 Watts Co2 laser, was analized. Sc anning electron microscopy was used to observe the attack nucleated on the speciments exposed to immersion and as a complement of corrosion rates determined through electrochemical techniques comparing the lase r affected and non-affected zones. At steel cut and surfaces treated a t different laser scan rates with constant irradiation efficiency were analized. it was concluded that these treatments reduce the susceptib ility to exfoliating corrosion observed on the edges of specimens expo sed to marine environments.