Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Erhoehung des Absorptionsgrades beim Oberflaechen-Festphasenhaerten von Werkstuecken mittels Laserstrahlung

A process and a corresponding device are known to increase the absorption degree when performing surface solid phase hardening of workpieces by means of laser radiation, in particular of complex geometry workpieces, whereby measures, which increase the absorption of laser radiation, are performed on the workpiece in the area of the processing zone during the processing process. In order to create a process and a device with which a surface hardness treatment of complex component geometries can be performed in the finished state without previously applying absorption-increasing top coatings, and with which an increased process speed compared with conventional processes can be achieved, and whereby the hardness penetration depth can be increased with comparable process parameters, a process gas is supplied to the processing zone as a measure to increase absorption in the form of a gas mixture consisting of at least one inert gas and oxygen, and the absorption degree of the laser radiatio n in the processing zone of the workpiece is adjusted as a factor of the process gas volumetric flow of the gas mixture and/or of the process gas volumetric flow and/or the temperature in the processing zone during processing as a factor of a reference value.