In this master’s thesis, laser surface hardening of Dievar hot-work tool steel using a pulsed Nd:YAG ECO 2600 laser was investigated. In the literature, laser hardening of tool steels is predominantly performed using high-power industrial laser systems, whereas studies focusing on the use of laboratory Nd:YAG lasers for this purpose are less common. The aim of the research was to evaluate the applicability of a laboratory laser for effective surface
hardening without material ablation and to determine optimal process parameters. The experimental work included laser treatment of specimens in three different heat-treated
conditions, metallographic analysis of the microstructure, hardness measurements, and surface roughness analysis. The results showed the formation of a fine martensitic
microstructure in the surface layer and more than a threefold increase in hardness compared to the base material. The depth and width of the hardened zone were found to depend on the initial microstructure of the material. The findings confirm that, with an appropriate selection of parameters, a laboratory Nd:YAG laser can achieve laser surface hardening effects comparable to those obtained with industrial laser systems.
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