Hard brittle materials have many highly promising applications. It is, however, difficult to process such materials at the micro and nanoscale level due to their extreme mechanical properties. A solution to this problem comes in the form of laser processing. As this method is highly controllable and non-contact, it can generate micro and nanoscale surfaces and structures efficiently. This book addresses the fundamentals and applications of micro and nanoscale laser processing of hard brittle materials.
Micro and Nanoscale Laser Processing of Hard Brittle Materialsexamines general laser-material interactions within this type of material. It focuses on the nanoprocessing technologies that these phenomena have given rise to. A great variety of technologies have been developed to create functional surfaces and parts with immense added value; laser machining, healing, recovery, sintering, surface modification, texturing and microstructuring are discussed. These technologies all benefit from the characteristics of laser processing, its highly localized heating ability and its well-defined optical properties to name a few. The book also describes frontier applications of the developed technologies; underlining the possibility of processing hard brittle materials into complex structures with functional surfaces at the micro and nanoscale.
This book explores the ways in which these changes can be useful and add value to the material. It aims to inspire the future development of even more applications and technologies. It is a timely addition to the literature on nanotechnology, which would stimulate further interest in this highly important field.