Structuring of titanium using a nanosecond-pulsed Nd:YVO4 laser at 1064 nm

We demonstrate the manufacture of organized microstructures on titanium substrates in an air atmosphere utilizing a pulsed Nd:YVO laser with pulse length of 8 ns and repetition rate of 30 kHz at 1064 nm. The ablation threshold of titanium for irradiation at this wavelength was measured to be in the range of 1.7-1.8 J/cm . For structuring of the metal, we used maximum laser energy fluence above the ablation threshold. This led to the generation of arrays of organized microstructures with average periods ranging from ~40 to ~90 µm. The mechanism for formation of the microstructures is discussed. Formation of such organized structures on titanium could find applications in sensing and biocompatibility