Augmentation of the mechanical and chemical resistance characteristics of an Al₂O₃-based refractory by means of high power diode laser surface treatment

Augmentation of the wear rate and wear life characteristics of an Al ₂O₃-based refractory within both normal and corrosive (NaOH and HNO₃) environmental conditions was effected by means of high power diode laser (HPDL) surface treatment. Life assessment testing revealed that the HPDL generated glaze increased the wear life of the Al ₂O₃-based refractory by 1.27-13.44 times depending upon the environmental conditions. Such improvements are attributed to the fact that after laser treatment, the microstructure of the Al₂O ₃-based refractory was altered from a porous, randomly ordered structure, to a much more dense and consolidated structure that contained fewer cracks and porosities. In a world economy that is increasingly placing more importance on material conservation, a technique of this kind for delaying the unavoidable erosion (wear) and corrosion that materials such as the Al ₂O₃-based refractory must face may provide an economically attractive option for contemporary engineers.