Trinity College Develops Laser Machine to Study High-Speed Impact of Micro-Particles

Researchers from Trinity College Dublin’s School of Engineering (TCD) have developed a Laser Ablation Particle Acceleration and Observation (LAPAO) system to study the impact of 10-60μm particles at speeds of 1 km/s. The machine, unique in Europe, captures particle behavior upon impact, aiding in material design for various applications.

The LAPAO machine, created by Trinity’s Science & Technology in Advanced Manufacturing (STAM) research group, offers insights into particle-surface interactions crucial for enhancing materials like aircraft components, medical implants, and machinery coatings. The system improves the 'Cold Spray' process, enabling metal part printing and repair without melting.

Leo Devlin, a Ph.D. Candidate at Trinity, highlighted the machine's ability to provide real-time data on particle behavior, aiding in optimizing the cold spray process for different materials. The technology has been instrumental in determining critical velocities for materials like aluminum and high entropy alloy, enhancing material properties for various industries.

Cold spray technology has advanced to include laser-assisted and electromagnetism-assisted variants, improving material performance without reaching melting temperatures. Prof. Shuo Yin noted the broad applications of cold spray in aerospace, nuclear, automotive, and manufacturing sectors, with LAPAO also simulating high-velocity microscale impacts for space debris studies.

Prof. Rocco Lupoi mentioned the use of LAPAO in the MadeCold project, focusing on electrostatic acceleration of single particles for cold spray applications. The machine provides insights into bonding velocities and particle-material relationships, revolutionizing material design and manufacturing processes.

According to the source: Optics.org.