Effect of Surface Laser Cleaning on Microstructure and Properties of Q355ME Carbon Steel

LI Lin; YANG Fan; CHEN Yuqiang; ZHI Qian; LIN Lin; HE Zhengmao; YUAN Hao; LU Dingding

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1674-6457.2026.08.001

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Journal of Netshape Forming Engineering ›› 2026, Vol. 18 ›› Issue (8) : 1-13. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-6457.2026.08.001

Key Technologies for Precision Forming of High-end Energy and Aerospace Equipment Components

Effect of Surface Laser Cleaning on Microstructure and Properties of Q355ME Carbon Steel

LI Lin¹, YANG Fan¹, CHEN Yuqiang^2,3,*, ZHI Qian², LIN Lin³, HE Zhengmao², YUAN Hao², LU Dingding²

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Abstract

The work aims to investigate the effects of surface cleaning processes on the in-service performance of Q355ME carbon steel, thereby providing a theoretical basis for the recycling and process optimization of steel used in construction machinery. Through mechanical testing, corrosion experiments, and microstructural characterization, this study systematically compared the effects of non-contact laser cleaning (LC) and conventional mechanical grinding (MG) on the surface morphology, tensile and bending properties, cyclic fatigue response, and corrosion resistance of this carbon steel. Microstructurally, LC treatment caused no mechanical damage and maintained continuous ferrite grain boundaries; MG treatment induced dense micro-spalling and pitting at grain and phase boundaries. In terms of mechanical properties, LC specimens achieved an elongation at fracture of 29.5% due to the preservation of grain boundary continuity, approximately 10.7% higher than the MG process; MG specimens reached a bending strength of 728.0 MPa due to the surface work hardening effect, approximately 7.3% higher than the LC process. Regarding fatigue performance, localized surface defects in the LC treatment caused stress concentration, reducing the fatigue limit to 300 MPa; in contrast, the MG treatment, due to its low surface roughness and residual compressive stress, suppressed crack initiation, resulting in a fatigue limit of 350 MPa. In terms of corrosion resistance, the LC treatment effectively prevented the localized “occluded cell” effect, shifting the self-corrosion potential to -0.68 V, which was superior to the -0.76 V observed for the MG treatment. In conclusion, the LC process, with its non-thermal damage characteristics, effectively maintains the integrity of the matrix microstructure, imparting superior tensile ductility and environmental corrosion resistance to Q355ME carbon steel; the MG process, through surface work hardening and residual compressive stress control, enhances bending strength and fatigue life.

Key words

Q355ME carbon steel / laser cleaning / microscopic defects / electrochemical corrosion / high-cycle fatigue

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LI Lin, YANG Fan, CHEN Yuqiang, ZHI Qian, LIN Lin, HE Zhengmao, YUAN Hao, LU Dingding. Effect of Surface Laser Cleaning on Microstructure and Properties of Q355ME Carbon Steel[J]. Journal of Netshape Forming Engineering. 2026, 18(8): 1-13 https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1674-6457.2026.08.001

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Funding

Hunan Provincial Science and Technology Innovation Program (2023RC1088); National Natural Science Foundation of China General Program (52475346); Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation (2025JJ70085); Hunan Provincial Innovative Talent Program (2025RC4011)