About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Characterization of Minerals, Metals and Materials 2026 - In-Situ Characterization Techniques
|
| Presentation Title |
Blue laser welding in heat pump manufacturing |
| Author(s) |
António Pereira, Nélia M. Silva, Dina M. Silva, Bernardo Mascate |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
António Pereira |
| Abstract Scope |
Copper is crucial in heat pump and refrigeration systems due to its high electrical conductivity, which reduces energy loss and increases efficiency. Welding is essential for creating strong joints, but copper's high reflectivity and thermal conductivity make it challenging to weld using traditional infrared lasers (around 1000 nm), which copper reflects by up to 95%. This limits energy absorption and requires higher power levels. Recently, blue and green diode lasers, operating near 500 nm, have improved absorption and welding precision. In this work, a 2 kW Laserline LDM blue diode laser at 450 nm was used to weld 9.5 mm copper pipes. Joint quality was assessed through leak tests, tensile tests for mechanical strength, nanoindentation, microhardness measurements, and microstructural analysis via optical microscopy and SEM to evaluate the heat-affected zone. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Characterization, Copper / Nickel / Cobalt, Joining |