Laser Plasma Methods for Improving the Corrosion Resistance of EP-823 Steel Fuel-Element Cladding at 650–720°C

Resumo

The existing excimer lasers with pulse durations in the nanosecond range and high pulse and average power afford a unique possibility of influencing the surface of materials and developing new, efficient technologies. It is shown in this article that surface treatment with a periodic-pulse UV laser cleans surfaces by removing oxides, reduces roughness, and increases hardness. Different variants of pulsed laser deposition of aluminum and Al₂O₃ are used to form protective, composite, cermet layers that suppress surface corrosion of EP-823 steel fuel-element cladding in lead in contact with air at 650–720°C.