Heat treatments are frequently used to modify the microstructure and mechanical properties of materials according to the requirements of their applications. Laser surface treatment (LST) has become a relevant technique due to the high control of the parameters and localization involved in surface modification. It allows for the rapid transformation of the microstructure near the surface, resulting in minimal distortion of the workpiece bulk. LST encompasses, in turn, laser surface melting and laser surface hardening techniques. Many of the works devoted to studying the effects of LST in cast iron are diverse and spread in several scientific communities. This work aims to review the main experimental aspects involved in the LST treatment of four cast-iron groups: gray (lamellar) cast iron, pearlitic ductile (nodular) iron, austempered ductile iron, and ferritic ductile iron. The effects of key experimental parameters, such as laser power, scanning velocity, and interaction time, on the microstructure, composition, hardness, and wear are presented, discussed, and overviewed. Finally, we highlight the main scientific and technological challenges regarding LST applied to cast irons.

The aim of this work is the analysis of laser beam forming (LBF) in the bending of two relevant materials used in the transportation industry—interstitial-free (IF) steel and AA6013 high-strength aluminum alloy. Our experiments and numerical simulations consider two different operating scenarios achieved by varying the laser beam scanning velocity using linear paths. The material behavior during this process is described via a coupled thermomechanical-plasticity-based formulation that allows prediction of temperature profiles and bending angles. Metallography, glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction are used for microstructure characterization. In addition, microstress analyses are performed in order to study the stress behavior of the irradiated zones. It is found that LBF mainly induces grain growth and melting in the case of high surface temperatures. Before melting, the materials developed compressive stresses that could be useful in preventing cracking failures. The resulting bending angles are predicted and experimentally validated, indicating the robustness of the model to estimate LBF effects on advanced alloys. The present analysis relating bending angles together with temperature and microstructure profiles along the thickness of the sheets is the main original contribution of this work, highlighting the need for further modeling refinement of the effects of LBF on advanced alloys to include more microstructural properties, such as grain boundary diffusion and surface roughness.