Laser melt injection in aluminum alloys: On the role of the oxide skin

In this paper the method of laser melt injection of SiC particles into an aluminum substrate is investigated both experimentally and theoretically. An extremely small operational parameter window was found for successful injection processing. It is shown that the final injection depth of the particles is controlled mainly by the temperature of the melt pool rather than by the particle velocity. A theoretical model that takes into account the wetting behavior and the particle penetration processes is developed on the basis of the observed particle velocity, thickness and area fraction of oxide skin that partially covers the surface of the heated aluminum melt pool. The model reveals the role of the oxide skin: it is relatively strong at low temperature and acts as a severe barrier for the injection process. It was found that preheating the aluminum substrate results in a higher temperature of the melt pool and partial dissolution of the oxide skin, through which the injected particles are able to penetrate.