Abstract
This work provides detailed information on the surface morphology, microstructure and thermohistory of the epoxy tile grout resulting from high power diode laser (HPDL) treatment using compressed air, Ar, N 2 and O 2 . O 2 was found to effect the greatest removal rate, with the amount of removal with O 2 being up to twice as much as that with the other three gases. Such an occurrence is believed to be due to the fact that of the four gases used, O 2 is the most reactive. Microstructural analysis revealed differences in the grout surface structure before and after the laser treatment. The surface of the laser-treated samples had a collection of grouped particles with pores and gaps, whereas the untreated sample had a continuous mono-structured plane surface. Larger sized particles were observed with O 2 gas compared to compressed air, Ar and N 2 . Both an EDX (energy-dispersive X-ray) and an XRD (X-ray diffraction) analyses showed changes in chemical composition before and after the laser treatment. CaO and CO 2 found in the laser-treated sample were considered to be the product of decomposition of CaCO 3 (limestone). A TG-DTA (thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis) identified a sequence of thermal history for the epoxy grout in which reactions in the laser interaction can now be predicted.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 264-270 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Applied Surface Science |
| Volume | 186 |
| Issue number | 1-4 |
| Early online date | 31 Oct 2001 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 28 Jan 2002 |
| Externally published | Yes |
| Event | European Materials Research Society 2001 Symposium - Strasbourg, France Duration: 5 Jun 2001 → 5 Jun 2001 |
Keywords
- Gas
- Grout
- HPDL
- Removal
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Chemistry(all)
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Physics and Astronomy(all)
- Surfaces and Interfaces
- Surfaces, Coatings and Films