This research focuses on developing a fundamental understanding of the relationship between the laser processing parameters, microstructures, mechanical properties, and deposit thickness. To the best of our knowledge this is the only rapid manufacturing process which exhibited mechanical properties to the desired level for materials such as H13 steel, aluminum, and copper alloys. In a lifetime they may be subjected to cyclic loading over thousands of cycles. Therefore, besides electrical properties, they need to have better mechanical properties to withstand the service condition. The strategy is to charge the lathe parameters long enough by alloying to produce solid solution hardening of the surface, while the core remains pure enough to conduct electricity.
Surface cladding and tin on copper alloys are also explored as a way to improve the connectors.
The objectives of this research are to identify the dominant motive forces for convection in weld pools for different ranges of process parameters and quantitative understanding of effects of fluid flow and heat flow on weld pool shape and microstructure. The chemical vapor deposition of titanium nitride using a CO 2 laser as the heat source is being examined. In order to understand the kinetics of the process, the relationship between the processing parameters and the resulting deposit thickness is being studied. Associated transport phenomena for LCVD is modeled to understand the kinetics of the process. LIF, multiwavelength pyrometry spectroscopic techniques are employed for on-line monitoring of temperature and chemistry of the process.