Solid-liquid-vapor phase change of a subcooled metal powder particle subjected to nanosecond laser heating

Solid-liquid-vapor phase change of a metal particle subjected to nanosecond pulse laser heating is investigated analytically. Temperature distribution in the particle, locations of solid-liquid and liquid-vapor interface, saturation temperature, and recoil pressure around the particle were obtained analytically. Effects of physical parameters including laser fluence, pulse width, initial temperature, and particle diameter on the phase change were investigated. The results show that a decrease in particle radius and laser pulse width, or an increase in laser fluence and initial particle temperature, results in an earlier melting time, a higher surface temperature, more evaporated material, and a higher final thermalized temperature.