Laser machining of Al2O3-ZrO2 (3%Y2O3) eutectic composite

In this work we present the study of the interaction between NIR pulsed laser and Al2O3-ZrO2 (3%Y2O3) eutectic composite. The effect produced by modifying the reference position as well as the working conditions and laser beam features has been studied when the samples are processed by means of pulse bursts. The samples were obtained by the laser floating zone technique using a CO2 laser system. The laser machining was carried out with a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser at its fundamental wavelength of 1064nm with pulse-widths in the nanosecond range. Geometric dimensions, i.e. ablated depth, machined width and removed volume as well as ablation yield of the resulting holes have been studied. We have described and discussed the morphology, composition and microstructure of the processed samples. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.Daniel Sola thanks the JAE-DOC program and the Science and Technology Inter-Ministry commission of Spain and FEDER founds of the EC under project MAT2009-13979-C03-03 for the financial support of his contract.Peer Reviewe