Structural,morphological and mechanical properties of laser-irradiated copper using continuous wave diode laser

Laser irradiation effects on morphological, structural and mechanical properties of copper are explored. The targets are exposed by employing low-cost continuous wave (CW) laser (wavelength of 532?nm) in air. The surface morphology, structural and mechanical modification of irradiated targets was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) (Fei, Quanta 250), an X-ray diffractrometer (XRD) (DMAX III ARigaku, Japan) and a Vickers hardness tester, respectively. The SEM analysis revealed the exfoliation sputtering, electronic sputtering, thermal stresses and cracks. The grain size, dislocation line density, relative intensity and d-spacing of irradiated metals were studied by XRD. Micro hardness is found to increase with the increase in time of laser irradiation, in accordance with the Vickers hardness tester. This work provides a cost-effective, user-friendly and easy-to-handle study of several properties of irradiated targets with good results.