Laser hardening

Laser hardening is an advanced process in the heat treatment of workpieces that is used in various industrial applications. In this process, a high-energy laser beam is focused on the surface of a workpiece in order to achieve targeted localized heating. This targeted heating makes it possible to specifically improve the properties of the workpiece, particularly in terms of hardness and wear resistance.

The laser beam heats the surface of the workpiece very quickly to high temperatures, ensuring rapid heating and cooling. This rapid heat cycle leads to a martensitic transformation of the material, resulting in increased hardness. At the same time, the core of the workpiece remains largely unchanged due to the short dwell time of the laser beam at high temperatures.

A key advantage of laser hardening is its precision and controllability. By precisely controlling the laser beam, the hardening treatment can be limited to specific areas of the workpiece without affecting neighboring areas. This enables targeted adjustment of the material properties according to the requirements of the respective application.

Laser hardening is widely used in various industrial sectors, including the automotive industry, tool manufacturing and mechanical engineering. It is often used for components that are subject to high mechanical stress in order to increase their wear resistance and service life. Due to the precise control and efficiency of the process, laser hardening has established itself as a powerful method for improving material properties.