Authors:
R. Cottam
T. Barry
Industrial Laser Applications Laboratory, IRIS, Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Victoria 3122, Australia and Defence Materials Technology Centre, Victoria 3122, Australia

D. McDonald
Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia and Defence Materials Technology Centre, Victoria 3122, Australia

H. Li
Faculty of Engineering, University of Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia and Defence Materials Technology Centre, Victoria 3122, Australia

D. Edwards
A. Majumdar
Defence Science and Technology Organisation, Fishermans Bend, Victoria 3207, Australia and Defence Materials Technology Centre, Victoria 3122, Australia

J. Dominguez
Defence Science and Technology Organisation, Fishermans Bend, Victoria 3207, Australia

J. Wang
Industrial Laser Applications Laboratory, IRIS, Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Victoria 3122, Australia

M. Brandt
School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, RMIT University, Victoria 3083, Australia and Defence Materials Technology Centre, Victoria 3122, Australia

Nickel–aluminum bronze was subjected to laser heating to change the microstructure on the surface for enhanced corrosion performance. To develop the laser processing parameters, a two-phase diffusion model was used to determine the phase transformation kinetics. Also, an analytical laser heating model was employed to determine the laser power setting required to process just below the melting point. The result was that the lamellar &kgr;_III phase of the as-cast microstructure was dissolved up to 1.3 mm deep. Electrochemical testing revealed an increase in the corrosion potential and hence improved corrosion resistance for the laser processed surface, supporting the use of this process for enhanced corrosion performance of nickel–aluminum bronze components.