Emission spectroscopy of plasma during laser welding of AISI 201 stainless steel

Abstract

The rates of vaporization of alloying elements from the weld pool were related to the emission spectra of the plasma during pulsed laser welding of AISI 201 stainless steel under various welding conditions. The temperature distribution in the plasma was determined from the spectra obtained from various locations in the plasma plume. The extent of ionization of the plasma was calculated from the electron temperatures To understand the role of surface active elements, emission spectra and the vaporization rate of iron that resulted from the welding of ultrapure iron samples were compared with those from the welding of oxidized samples or samples that were doped with sulfur or oxygen.