Effect of Pulse Duration on Surface Characters and Wear Behavior of Laser-Hardened AISI O1 Tool Steel

AISI O1 steel, valued for its exceptional wear resistance as tool steel, undergoes laser surface hardening using a pulsed Nd:YAG laser in this investigation. The study investigates the influence of pulse duration on the wear mechanism. Scanning electron microscopy is utilized for microstructure examination, coupled with a microhardness test. The retained austenite in laser-hardened samples is quantified through X-ray diffraction analysis. The efficiency of laser surface hardening on the wear mechanism was assessed by comparing the results with a conventional bulk hardened sample. Wear tests and microstructure analysis revealed that pulse duration significantly influences the depth and diameter of the laser-hardened area, as well as the wear mechanism. Moreover, longer pulse durations resulted in enhanced wear mechanism performance.