The paper presents the surface structure formation of AISI 304 stainless steel using the MiniMarker2-20A4 laser system. Austenitic steel was in the form of a cold-rolled sheet and a tape of increased strength for parts and structures. The article reviews the corrosion-resistant steel surface condition after analyzing the influence of power, frequency and speed of the laser and evaluates the impact on the corrosion resistance of the treated surface. The contrast assessment shows the treated structure effect on the alloy surface reflectivity. The calculations of the most optimal marking are made for obtaining the greatest contrast. The maximum contrast obtained as a result of parameter optimization was 0.83 and was improved by 10%. The article also touches on the influence and susceptibility to corrosion of stainless steel samples with laser marking by QR codes. This point displays structural change of the processed area and presentations steel surface structure AISI 304 after corrosion tests.

This work shows readability of the QR code of the structural alloy Ti2 surface after the thermal influence. The main goal is the readability estimation after exposure to temperatures exceeding operating alloy temperatures and in destruction crash conditions. Contrast and readability were measured by using a Samsung smartphone and the program Adobe Photoshop CC 2017. The graphs of contrast change depending on the heating temperature were drawn. These graphs illustrate that significant changes in contrast are observed in the range from 500 to 600°C due to darkening of the base metal and the substrate, as well as fading of the dark elements of the code.

The results of the development of the flux CaO-Li2CO3-B2O3, operating in the oxidizing environment of the furnace, are shown. Flux is used to protect the melt from oxidation and removal of oxides from the coated sample surface. The use of this flux in open furnaces made it possible to apply high-quality nickel coatings with a thickness of 18 μm, which is comparable to the thickness of coatings obtained in vacuum furnaces in argon atmosphere. The negative effect of flux components on the sample surface was noted during prolonged contact under the conditions of the oxidizing environment of the furnace. Practical application of the research results will provide high-quality diffusion coatings on metal products. In addition, economic efficiency is maintained through accessibility of the equipment and flux components.

The main purpose of this work is to study and evaluate the mechanical properties of nanocomposite coatings based on metal-ceramics. The research also estimates factors affecting the unique properties of these surface coatings. The study compares the physical and mechanical properties of tool material plates with a nanodispersed multilayer composite coating and analyzes the results of mechanical tests with and without these coverings. The results of the investigation show that nanocomposite coatings contribute to hardness, strength and wear resistance more than three times, while traditional hardening methods, such as thermal and chemical-thermal treatment, improve the mechanical properties much less. It can be concluded that nanocomposite coatings can increase the strength resource of the tool. Their main disadvantage is the individuality of the properties of each coating and the need for expensive equipment for their creation and application. In the use of nanocomposite coatings to increase surface properties, multicomponent coatings are of the greatest interest. As a result of this work, the nanocomposite metal coating of the nc-TiN/a-Si3N4 system was studied, the dependence of properties on the content of the nc-TiN and a-Si3N4 phases was examined, and the optimal ratio was found which ensured the highest values of hardness with the best wear resistance.

Laser marking is a universal method of applying information to the products surface. Colored oxide films form on metal surface during a thermal exposure. The degree of steel heating influences the film thickness. Corrosion-resistant steel AISI 304 samples were laser-marked with a MiniMarker 2-20A4 precision laser complex. The contrast of the barcodes on a metal area depends on the surface roughness and the chemical composition of the steel. Fe2O3, Fe3O4 oxides forms the greatest contrast. RGB indicators are used to assess contrast. Study results may be applicable to increase the QR code contrast thereby contributing to the improvement of laser marking technology while preserving economic efficiency.