Laser remelting

Laser remelting is used to generate fine-grained, strong and tough solidified structures. It is used, for example, to protect against wear, to remove material inconsistencies or repair small, local tool defects.

Laser remelting as well as laser hardening is part of the boundary layer processing method. With this method, the material is locally heated above melting temperature with the laser beam on the surface. After that, a rapid cooling occurs by conducting heat into the interior of the work piece, i.e. the component sections that are still cold. This rapid cooling, the so-called "self-quenching", causes structural changes with altered properties.