Surface alloying method and apparatus using high energy beam

A method for forming an alloy on a contoured surface of a substrate at ambient temperature comprising the steps of:

• placing a solidified material on the surface of said substrate while it is substantially at ambient temperature, said material being suitable for alloying with said substrate;
• directing a beam of high intensity electro-magnetic energy from a source thereof at said material and traversing said beam relative to the surface of said substrate to cause said beam to be directed at a predetermined area of said substrate for a predetermined short period of time, the intensity of said high intensity beam and the duration of said predetermined short period of time being selected to:
• (1) melt said material during said predetermined short period of time solely by virtue of the energy supplied by said high intensity beam, (2) cause alloying of said material with said substrate in a surface zone thereof, and (3) limit the amount of thermal energy transmitted to said substrate to prevent substantial elevation of the temperature of said substrate below said surface zone and to allow rapid solidification of said material thereafter due to the dissipation of thermal energy into said substrate, the rate of traverse of said beam relative to said substrate is varied in accordance with the contour of said substrate such that said rate of traverse is decreased when the surface of said substrate slopes toward or away from said source of said beam.

A method for forming an alloy on the surface of a substrate am ambient temperature comprising the steps of:

• placing a solidified material on the surface of said substrate while it is substantially at ambient temperature, said material being suitable for alloying with said substrate;
• directing a beam of high intensity electro-magnetic energy at optical means in a manner so that said optical means further directs said beam at said material;
• imparting a movement to said optical means to cause said beam to traverse relative to the surface of said substrate so that said beam is directed at a predetermined area of said substrate for a predetermined short period of time, the intensity of said high intensity beam and the duration of said predetermined short period of time being selected to:
• (1) melt said material during said predetermined short period of time solely by virtue of the energy supplied by said high intensity beam, (2) cause alloying of said material with said substrate in a surface zone thereof, and (3) limit the amount of thermal energy transmitted to said substrate to prevent substantial elevation of the temperature of said substrate below said surface zone and to allow rapid solidification of said material thereafter due to the dissipation of thermal energy into said substrate.