Mechanisms of phase transformations during laser treatment of grey cast iron

Pearlitic grey cast iron was surface melted using a 500 W CW CO₂ laser at travel speeds 0.5–100 cm s^–1. Detailed structural analysis of the laser modified layer was performed by optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and microhardness depth profiles were measured. Temperature distribution was calculated from a three dimensional moving point source model, taking only the heat transfer into account. From the structural details observed in the austenitized zone some conclusions on the mechanism and kinetics of the pearlite austenite transformation at high heating rates were drawn. The melted zone consisted of primary austenite and ledeburite. At lower scanning speeds the structure was dendritic, at higher scanning speeds transition to dendritic-cellular structure was observed. From the secondary dendrite arm spacings the cooling rate during solidification was estimated as a function of the depth. Some discrepancies were found between our measurements and the literature data as well as predictions by the simple model neglecting convection in the melt.