High power diode laser (HPDL) surface melting of a thin layer of an amalgamated Al2O3/SiO2 oxide
compound (AOC) resulted in significant changes in the wettability characteristics of the material.
This behaviour was identified as being primarily due to: (i) the polar component of the AOC surface
energy increasing after laser melting from 2.0 to 16.2 mJm-2, (ii) the surface roughness of the AOC
decreasing from an Ra value of 25.9 to 6.3 μm after laser melting and (iii) the relative surface oxygen
content of the AOC increasing by 36% after laser melting. HPDL melting was consequently
identified as affecting a decrease in the enamel contact angle from 1180 prior to laser melting to 330
after laser melting; thus allowing the vitreous enamel to wet the AOC surface. The effective melt
depth for such modifications was measured as being from 50 to 125 μm. The morphological,
microstructural and wetting characteristics of the AOC were determined using optical microscopy,
scanning electron microscopy, energy disperse X-ray analysis, X-ray diffraction techniques and
wetting experiments by the sessile drop technique. The work has shown that laser radiation can be
used to alter the wetting characteristics of the AOC only when surface melting occurs
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