Controlling the porosity of powder metallurgy products by a laser beam

Experimental results obtained for powder metallurgy products based on nickel, bronze, and molybdenum are used to establish a relationship between the porosity of a material and the parameters of the beam-affected zone and also between the characteristics of a laser erosion plasma. The approach proposed here makes it possible to control the porosity of powder metallurgy alloys in the porosity range 0-60 percent for products based on high-melting powders and in the range 0-25 percent for products based on metals with a melting temperature below 2000 C.