Clauer Allan H., Fairand Barry P., Slater John E. Laser Shocking of 2024 and 7075 Aluminum Alloys

Columbus: Battelle Columbus Laboratories, 1977. — 101 p.The effect of laser generated stress waves on the microstructures, hardness, strength and stress corrosion resistance -of 2024 and 7075 aluminum alloys was investigated. Pulsed CO2 and neodymium-glass lasers were used in this study to determine the effect of wavelength and pulse duration on pressure generation and material property changes. No changes in material properties were observed with the C02 laser. The strength and hardness of 2024-T351 and the strength of 7075-T73 aluminum alloys were substantially improved by the stress wave environments generated with the neodymium-glas laser. The mechanical properties of 2024-T851 and 7075-T651 were unchanged by the laser treatment. The correlation of the laser shock data with published results of flyer plat experiments demonstrated that a threshold pressure needed to be exceeded before strengthening and hardening could occur. Peak pressures generated by the pulsed laser source were less than 7.0 GPa which was below the threshold pressure required to change the mechanical properties of 2024-T851 and 7075-T651. Corrosion studies indicated that lase shocking increased the resistance to local attack in 2024-T351 and 7075-T651.