On the surface characteristics and removability of RB-SiC composite processed by nanosecond pulsed laser

The inherent hard-brittle nature of RB-SiC composite poses significant challenges for efficient machining, hindering its application and promotion. Laser processing is a non-contact treatment technique that can effectively modify the mechanical properties of the material surface, thereby altering its removability. Accordingly, the change in surface characteristics of RB-SiC composite induced by nanosecond laser irradiation was investigated. It was found that laser irradiation could effectively soften the RB-SiC composite (with a maximum reduction in hardness by 40.7%), and the softening degree was strongly dependent on the laser parameters. The chemical composition analysis showed that the SiC content was decreased while the Si content was increased after laser irradiation, which was mainly responsible for the hardness reduction of RB-SiC composite. In addition, compared to the original RB-SiC composite, the laser-irradiated samples exhibited enhanced weight loss during the polishing process. This work gives a feasible route to improve the removability of RB-SiC composite.