Investigation on mechanism of oxide removal and plasma behavior during laser cleaning on aluminum alloy

Through comparing the cleaning effect of aluminum alloy at different energy densities, the model of materials thermodynamics was established, illuminating the cleaning mechanism and plasma behavior. The research showed laser cleaning could remove oxide layer completely. The initial cleaning threshold was 12.7 J/cm2 and complete cleaning threshold was 25.5 J/cm2. At low energy density, phase explosion caused by laser ablation was the main cleaning mechanism. At high energy density, besides phase explosion, impact effect induced by evaporation pressure caused the splattering and removal of oxide layer. Plasma lifespan had positive correlation with energy density. Its lifespan in 25.5 J/cm2 and 51.0 J/cm2 were about 6 μs and above 10 μs, respectively. The model of materials thermodynamics showed that at low energy density, substrate evaporation pushed out molten oxide layer and formed pulse craters. At high energy density, transient energy absorption caused thermal stress coupling effect and separated substrate with oxide layer. The impact effect induced by evaporation pressure resulted in the removal of oxide layer. The vapor of Al absorbed laser energy and formed plasma. The high energy density enhanced the laser-plasma coupling. It caused high temperature and intensive electron density. The time of plasma cooling and atomization became longer.