Investigation and in situ removal of spatter generated during laser ablation of aluminium composites

•Study of spatter generated during laser irradiation of an aluminium nanocomposite.•Number of droplets was 1.5–3 times higher for laser in depth vs surface focused beams.•High speed imaging revealed particles exploding in flight similar to a fireworks effect.•Three methods were selected for droplets removal in situ and the results are analyzed. Spatter generated during laser irradiation of an aluminium alloy nanocomposite (AlMg5 reinforced with Al2O3 nanoparticles) was monitored by high speed imaging. Droplets trajectory and speed were assessed by computerized image analysis. The effects of laser peak power and laser focusing on the plume expansion and expulsed droplet speeds were studied in air or under argon flow. It was found that the velocity of visible droplets expulsed laterally or at the end of the plume emission from the metal surface was not dependent on the plasma plume speed. The neighbouring area of irradiation sites was studied by optical and scanning electron microscopy. Droplets deposited on the surface were classified according to their size and counted using a digital image processing software. It was observed that the number of droplets on surface was 1.5–3 times higher when the laser beam was focused in depth as compared to focused beams, even though the populations average diameter were comparable. Three methods were selected for removing droplets in situ, during plume expansion: an argon gas jet crossing the plasma plume, a fused silica plate collector transparent to the laser wavelength placed parallel to the irradiated surface and a mask placed onto the aluminium composite surface. The argon gas jet was efficient only for low power irradiation conditions, the fused silica plate failed in all tested conditions and the mask was successful for all irradiation regimes.