Abstract

This research examines the thermal shock otherwise know as cracking on a ZrO2 advance ceramic (ZAC) during fibre and CO2 laser surface engineering. A parameter window was designed and the effects of both the fibre and the CO2 lasers were compared upon the specific ZrO2 ceramic type used herein. No pre-or-post heating techniques for the surface engineering process were adopted since such methods are a non-value adding feature to the laser surface treatment process. A threshold with minimal or no surface cracks was found for the ZAC during both the CO2 and fibre laser surface engineering (LSE). The best laser processing parameter window for the type of ZAC used herein is presented for both the CO2 and the fibre LSE. In addition, laser processing temperatures were measured to compare the heat distribution of both the CO2 and the fibre laser to further justify the influence of the thermal shock induced thereof on the ZAC.