Affiliation:
1. Siemens Logistics and Assembly Systems
2. RJD Engineering Consultants
Abstract
Lasers have been used to chemically vapor deposit materials since the 1970’s. The fine
focus achievable with the laser beam allows deposition to be carried out on a substrate much like
hand-writing. The formation of a filament simply requires moving the filament to keep the laser
beam focused on or near the depositing tip of the filament. Deposition rates can be very rapid
because of the high mass transport rate that can be achieved, although the total mass deposited is
low. Multiple beams can be used to increase the number of filaments being formed, but the high
deposition rate would be sacrificed somewhat. However, the process is attractive for producing
small amounts of new high temperature materials in the easily tested filament form. The process is
also amenable to easily making more complicated shapes such as coils that could be used for
heating or other applications. Deposition kinetics are different for cases where deposition is from
the original deposition molecule or early formed fragment, compared to intermediates formed by
subsequent gas phase reactions.
Publisher
Trans Tech Publications Ltd