442
S. Arthanari et al.
the biomolecules [6, 7]. Laser ablation is also used to fabricate such nanostructures
having better surface-enhanced Raman signals (SERS) [8]. The fabrication of hierarchical micro/nanostructures on implantable materials would also be beneficial to
enhance the Raman signals and such substrates could be widely used for biomedical
imaging applications. Therefore, the present chapter mainly provides an overview
of recent research works on the laser surface treatments applied on various metallic
implant materials to produce refined microstructures and micro/nano textures, and
their applications in various biomedical fields.
2 Laser Processing of Metallic Materials
Laser processing is widely used to enhance the surface properties such as hardness,
wear, and corrosion resistance of metallic materials used in several applications [9].
Figure 1 depicts the simple schematic representation of the laser processing experimental arrangements. Laser surface melting is a widely used process in which the
substrate is irradiated with the laser and the surface melt locally and rapid solidification of the melted layer produces fine microstructures (micro/nanograins), which
further enhance the surface properties [10]. The melted layer thickness is typically in
several 10–100 μm depending on the laser processing parameters such as laser power,
scanning speed, etc. The laser cladding process can be carried out in two methods (1)
direct feeding of the clad materials and (2) preplacing the coating materials on the
substrate. In both the processes metal, ceramic or composite layer is irradiated with
the laser to deposit them on the substrate. The cladding process generally produces
hard coatings, and in this process, good metallurgical bonding between the coating
and substrate is achieved [11]. Laser surface patterning/texturing is a process in
which the micro/nano textures are produced by controlling the laser parameters. The
Laser beam
diameter
Scan overlap
Laser beam
overlap
Laser
scanning
Control stage
Work piece
>
>
>
>
>
>
Scanning
Galvanometer
Mirror
Mirror
Pulsed laser
Laser beam
Beam
expander
Computer
control
Fig. 1 Schematic representation of laser processing equipment and scanning parameters
S. Arthanari et al.
the biomolecules [6, 7]. Laser ablation is also used to fabricate such nanostructures
having better surface-enhanced Raman signals (SERS) [8]. The fabrication of hierarchical micro/nanostructures on implantable materials would also be beneficial to
enhance the Raman signals and such substrates could be widely used for biomedical
imaging applications. Therefore, the present chapter mainly provides an overview
of recent research works on the laser surface treatments applied on various metallic
implant materials to produce refined microstructures and micro/nano textures, and
their applications in various biomedical fields.
2 Laser Processing of Metallic Materials
Laser processing is widely used to enhance the surface properties such as hardness,
wear, and corrosion resistance of metallic materials used in several applications [9].
Figure 1 depicts the simple schematic representation of the laser processing experimental arrangements. Laser surface melting is a widely used process in which the
substrate is irradiated with the laser and the surface melt locally and rapid solidification of the melted layer produces fine microstructures (micro/nanograins), which
further enhance the surface properties [10]. The melted layer thickness is typically in
several 10–100 μm depending on the laser processing parameters such as laser power,
scanning speed, etc. The laser cladding process can be carried out in two methods (1)
direct feeding of the clad materials and (2) preplacing the coating materials on the
substrate. In both the processes metal, ceramic or composite layer is irradiated with
the laser to deposit them on the substrate. The cladding process generally produces
hard coatings, and in this process, good metallurgical bonding between the coating
and substrate is achieved [11]. Laser surface patterning/texturing is a process in
which the micro/nano textures are produced by controlling the laser parameters. The
Laser beam
diameter
Scan overlap
Laser beam
overlap
Laser
scanning
Control stage
Work piece
>
>
>
>
>
>
Scanning
Galvanometer
Mirror
Mirror
Pulsed laser
Laser beam
Beam
expander
Computer
control
Fig. 1 Schematic representation of laser processing equipment and scanning parameters