Abstract
Alumina reduction by laser ablation has been tested using a kW-class continuous-wave CO2 laser. The laser beam was focused on a sintered alumina rod and laser ablation occurred on the rod surface in a test chamber with argon ambient gas. The laser intensity was changed from 0.36 GW/m^2 to 1.8 GW/m^2 at the ambient pressure of 30 kPa to 150 kPa. A copper plate was set in front of the alumina rod to collect ablation products. As a result, white and black substances were adhered to the plate. By quantitative analysis using EDX (energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy), mole fraction (Al:O) of these substances were found 2:2.8 and 2:2.3, respectively. These data suggest that these substances are alumina and oxygen-deficient alumina, respectively. Herewith, it was certified that reduction reaction occurs by laser ablation and phenomena in the ablation plume was estimated.
