The state of laser processing in surface materials modification in Poland is reported, based on own experience, coworkers and coauthors results, as well the literature review. The curriculum concerning historical development of lasers and laser technology in Poland, laser-matter interaction, as well basis of different laser techniques applied in materials surface engineering (solid state hardening, melting, alloying, cladding, ablation, shot peening, cleaning and texturing) are reviewed, and compared with results of coauthors, as well with a wide range of Polish authors papers. Finally, it is concluded that overall state of research on laser application in surface engineering in Poland is well developed and still growing industrial application is observed.

In this study, the laser metal deposition (LMD) of the Inconel 625–tungsten carbide (WC) metal matrix composite was investigated. The composite coating was deposited on Inconel 625 substrate by powder method. A powder mixture containing 10 wt% of WC (5 µm) was prepared by wet mixing with dextrin binder. Coating samples obtained by low-power LMD were pore- and crack-free. Ceramic reinforcement was distributed homogenously in the whole volume of the material. Topologically close-packed (TCP) phases were formed at grain boundaries between WC and Inconel 625 matrix as a result of partial dissolution of WC in a nickel-based alloy. Line analysis of the elements revealed very small interference of the coating in the substrate material when compared to conventional coating methods. The average Vickers hardness of the coating was about 25% higher than the hardness of pure Inconel 625 reference samples.

The aim of the presented investigations was to deposit the thin films La_1−xSr_xFeO₃ (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2) on (100) Si substrate by using the Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) method. Structure was exanimated by using XRD, SEM, AFM, TEM and XPS methods. The catalytic properties were analyzed in 4 ppm acetone atmosphere. The doping of Sr thin films La_1−xSr_xFeO₃ (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2) resulted in a decrease in the size of the crystallites, the volume of the elemental cell and change in the grain morphology. In the LaFeO₃ and La_0.9Sr_0.1FeO₃, clusters around which small grains grow are visible in the structure, while in the layer La_0.8Sr_0.2FeO₃, the visible grains are elongated. The TEM analysis has shown that the obtained thin films had a thickness in the range 150–170 nm with triangular or flat column ends. The experiment performed in the presence of gases allowed us to conclude that the surfaces (101/020) in the triangle-shaped columns and the plane (121/200) faces in flat columns were exposed to gases. The best properties in the presence of CH₃COCH₃ gas were noted for LaFeO₃ thin film with triangle columns ending with orientation (101/020).

The paper is devoted to the study of microstructural and magnetic properties of the Fe-based amorphous ribbons after interference pulsed laser heating. The ternary amorphous alloy FeSiB, as well as the multi-component alloys FeCuSiB and FeCuNbSiB, was subjected to laser pulses to induce crystallization in many microislands simultaneously. Structure and properties changes occurred in laser-heated dots. Detailed TEM analysis from a single dot shows the presence of FeSi(α) nanocrystals in the amorphous matrix. The FeSiB alloy is characterized after conventional crystallization by a dendritic structure; however, the alloys with copper as well copper and niobium additions are characterized by the formation of equiaxed crystals in the amorphous matrix. Amorphous alloys before and after the laser heating are soft magnetic; however, conventional crystallization leads to a deterioration of the soft magnetic properties of the material.

In this work the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and the pulsed electron beam deposition (PED) techniques were used for fabrication of Mo-Bi₂O₃, La_1−xSr_xCoO₃, La_1−xCa_xCoO₃ and Al-Mg thin films. An influence of ablation process basic parameters on the coatings structure and properties was discussed. Two types of laser ablation systems were applied: one equipped with a KrF excimer and second with a Q-switched Nd:YAG. Films were deposited on Si and MgO substrates. Scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM) as well as X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used for structural analysis. Investigations focused on structure and chemical composition showed that smooth and dense thin films with nanocrystalline structure, preserving the composition of the bulk target, could be obtained by the both PLD and PED techniques. Research study showed that by a proper selection of PLD and PED process parameters it was possible to deposit films with significantly decreased amount and size of undesirably nanoparticulates.