Pulsed laser ablation of cutting edge geometries in alumina and zirconia composites at 200 fs and 2 ps

In this study, the feasibility of lasermachining cutting edges into mixed oxide ceramics such as alumina toughened zirconia (ATZ) and zirconia toughened alumina (ZTA) is evaluated. A simplified standard wedge geometry is machined into cylindrical samples by combining orthogonal and quasi-tangential laser machining strategies. For the experiments a laser source emitting a wavelength of 515 nm is applied and the pulse duration is varied between 0.2 and 2 ps. As target parameters the cutting edge radius and Sa value of the rake face are analyzed. The heat affected zone is analyzed by FIB SEM. An edge radius of 6.7 +/- 1.6 mu m at an Sa value of 0.115 mu m in the case of ZTA and an edge radius of 4.9 +/- 0.3 mu m at an Sa value of 0.125 mu m in the case of ATZ can be achieved. The results are promising for the application of laser ablation towards the manufacturing of cutting edges in oxide ceramics such as ATZ and ZTA.