Solution heat treatment with high-power YAG lasers

To prevent SCC (stress corrosion cracking) of austenite stainless steel was sensitized in the heat-affected zone of a conventional welding bead. We developed a surface solution heat treatment technology using high-power YAG lasers and a prediction model using experimental data. The solution heat treatment (SHT) zone is influenced by several laser irradiation parameters included with intensity distribution. Because it was difficult to estimate the SHT zone by a simple moving heat source conduction model, the prediction model obtained by experimental data using four different optics became an useful method. We found that the equation for predicting of the depth (D) is $D∼P/aV$ and the geometrical correlated width (W) is $W∼aD$⁠.