**7. Conclusion**

*Practical Applications of Laser Ablation*

**80**

**Figure 22.**

**Figure 21.**

*Schematic of laser texturing process.*

consumables like steel grits and acid to texture surfaces. Unlike those treatments, the laser texturing process functions without consumables. This results in low operating costs, low maintenance, and improved health and safety in the workplace.

*Schematic of laser surface texture dimensions: (a) circle, (b) oval.*

The new materials have been developed every day to meet the demand of competitive situations. The surface properties of substrate can be improved by a number of methods such as laser surface alterations such as surface hardening, melting, alloying, cladding and texturing in order to improve the mechanical performance and tribological behavior. In this work, the effect of laser process parameters on microstructure, hardness and wear rate of materials have been presented. The laser surface hardening is needed to high stressed components namely gear teeth, gears, shafts, camshafts, axles, cylinder liners and exhaust valves. The laser surface melting can be adopted in biomedical alloys, sport cars and power plants made of stainless steel, magnesium alloy and superalloys. The locomotive, aerospace and structural components made of aluminum alloys, titanium alloys and magnesium alloys have required the laser surface alloying to improve the surface properties of metals. The repaired and refurbishment components such as internal combustion engine parts, gas turbine, turbine blades and tools are highly needed the laser surface cladding to improve the surface properties of metals. The texturing on material is used to increase the tribological characteristics of materials resulting in improved surface roughness, wettability, improve load capacity, wear rates, lubricating lifetime and reduce friction coefficient. Hence, the laser based surface modification techniques can be adopted to improve the performance of the components.
