Structurally colored stainless steel processed by using femtosecond laser pulses

Abstract

Structurally colored stainless steel (SS) surfaces were produced by using femtosecond laser at normal incidence at ambient conditions. The influence of laser polarization on the surface properties was investigated. The surface morphologies, roughness and color of the laser-treated surface were characterized by using environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM), roughmeter and atomic force microscope (AFM). Results indicated that the circular polarization leads to more random structures than the horizontally linear polarization. Specimen with the highest surface roughness shows the brightest color. Different colors are cyclically exhibited by changing view angles due to different orders of diffraction. This investigation developed the technique of using femtosecond laser in situ preparation of periodic structures on 304 SS, and indicating that laser polarization is an important parameter to control surface structures to achieve different colors.