According to foreign media reports, The ZAL Center for Applied Aeronautical Research, an Aeronautical industry innovation Center in Hamburg, Germany, has purchased an additional laser pointer shot blasting (LSP) equipment at a cost of 2.6 million euros (more than 2.9 million dollars). The money to install the device is zar’s largest single investment to date. The laser shot peening technology introduced by the research center will be used to strengthen surface structural components so that they can withstand higher stress. In the field of aviation, laser shot peening technology can be used to strengthen the frame of cabin doors and cockpit Windows, which is more effective and environmentally friendly than traditional shot peening technology.
Laser shot peening technology, also known as laser shock intensification technology, is a high and new technology which USES the plasma shock wave generated by the strong laser beam to improve the anti-fatigue, anti-wear and anti-corrosion ability of metal materials. Laser shot peening requires coating and restraint layer. The main function of coating is to protect the workpiece from laser burn and enhance the absorption of laser energy. The confinement layer can not only restrain the expansion of plasma to increase the peak pressure of shock wave, but also extend its working time by reflecting the shock wave. At present, commonly used coating materials include: paint, tape, metal foil, etc. Commonly used binding layer is water, K9 glass.
During laser shot peening, the water film (restraint layer) is placed on top of the material to be treated, and the high intensity laser pulse is directed at the foil (coating) placed behind the water film. The laser beam creates a high-pressure plasma at the point of impact, releasing energy as an explosion. The blast waves compress the material at the point of impact, hardening the structure. The same process can be used to shape individual components. The flexibility of laser shot peening means it can be used to shape larger surfaces. This technology has been used in the aviation industry since its inception in the 1990s. In recent years, LSP has been proved and recognized by various industries due to its advantages over traditional shot peening in increasing the fatigue life of parts.
With the addition of zare technology centre, the laser shot peening technology will be used on a large scale in Europe for the first time, and airbus will be a major user of the new equipment. Airbus is leasing 60% of its infrastructure capacity, with the remaining capacity to be sold jointly by Hamburg’s ZAL and Dublin’s LSPT and used as a test infrastructure for research partners.