FOCUS ON LASER WELDING
Synchrotron radiation
Using synchrotron radiation, welding processes can be observed in greater detail than ever before— live and in real time. Researchers from Fraunhofer ILT and RWTH Aachen University – Chair for Laser Technology University are working at the German Electron Synchrotron( DESY) to make vapour capillaries, melt movements and defects visible. The consortium also includes the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, the University of Stuttgart, the Technische Universität Ilmenau and the Vienna University of Technology.
Their findings are designed to optimise battery and microelectronics production and pave the way for the development of new materials. The experiments penetrate deep into industrial laser processes such as welding, drilling and cutting, helping them to better understand material properties and behaviour, and ultimately optimise processes.
“ The research results show that stress cracks can be significantly reduced by selectively adjusting the laser settings, porosity can be minimised and electrical conductivity increased. Vapour capillaries and melt movements, which often cause defects, have been visualised in high resolution for the first time, enabling the team to optimise welding processes for high-power batteries,” confirmed Fraunhofer ILT.
“ Many sectors( including automotive, aviation, hydrogen technology or microelectronics) need to weld copper or aluminium joints, as well as metal and plastic ones, and to do so flawlessly. Only real-time visualisation makes it possible to identify the smallest material defects, defects that would not be visible using conventional methods,” it added.
With outstanding brilliance and intensity, synchrotron radiation not only enables users to investigate at a resolution in the micro( and even nanometer range) but also provides insights into the finest material structures and dynamic processes. Optical systems focus the
Above:“ Laser Meets Synchrotron” team at the German Electron Synchrotron( DESY) in Hamburg: Fraunhofer ILT; RWTH Aachen University; Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen Nuremberg; University of Stuttgart; Technische Universität Ilmenau and Vienna University of Technology.
laser radiation specifically on the materials; high-speed cameras, which achieve frame rates of up to 50,000 frames per second, are used for visualisation. Spurk and his team are
Laser welding.
Laser welding operations using a cobot.
Experimental set-up for performing phase contrast videography on beamline P61A at DESY Petra III.
Image: AWL.
Left and inset Image: © RWTH Aachen University – Chair for Laser Technology.
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