| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/N32242/01 |
| Title: |
LASER ASSISTED HIGH PRESSURE MICROWAVE GENERATED PLASMA FOR MATERIAL PROCESSING |
| Principal Investigator: |
Al-Shamma'a, Professor A |
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| Department: |
Electrical Engineering and Electronics |
| Organisation: |
University of Liverpool |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 March 2001 |
Ends: |
28 February 2002 |
Value (£): |
57,842
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| No relevance to Underpinning Sectors |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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The project is to introduce a novel technique for integrating a microwave plasma jet with a laser beam for material processing, such as cutting and welding. The presence of the microwave plasma will aid the coupling of the laser beam into the metal surface and this will allow an argon gas to be use as a shielding gas rather than the expensive helium gas. The main advantage of this system is its much lower cost than existing systems. The generic design of the hybrid system means that it can be applied for all type of materials such as steel, stainless steel and especially aluminium processing, which can not be done by using the current technology. The research programme will produce optimum operating conditions for each metal including input power (microwave + laser), workpiece speed, gas flow rate and material thickness. The research will be undertaken in collaboration with two industrial partners namely The Welding Institute (TWI) and Air Products (AP). Access to a 5kW CO2 laser facility will be provided by TWI whilst AP will provide a specific industrial aluminium workpieces upon which the results of the research may be tested.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.liv.ac.uk |