Monitoring the heat accumulation during fabrication of surface micro-patterns on metallic surfaces using direct laser interference patterning

Metallic samples with unique micro- and nano-scale surface structures can easily be fabricated with Direct Laser Interference Patterning. Like in all laser processes, the material interacts with the laser radiation and as a result, thermal effects occur. These effects have a significant influence on the resulting quality of the surface patterns. In this study, the thermal effects occurring during Direct Laser Interference Patterning of stainless steel and aluminum sheets are investigated. The used experimental setup consisted of a picosecond pulsed laser source operating at 532 nm wavelength, combined with a two-beam interference optical head. An infrared camera in an off-axis position is used to detect the resulting thermal radiation of the laser process varying different process parameters such as laser power and repetition rate. The obtained results reveal a correlation between the recorded signal by the infrared camera and the reached surface quality. They show an impact of the thermal effects on the quality of the surfaces and the amount of solidified material on the resulting line-like pattern. Threshold values of the detected infrared signal detected are determined to classify the obtained surface conditions.