Abstract
Abstract This research paper focuses on enhancing the surface characteristics of the 316 stainless steel (SS316) alloy, including roughness, microhardness, and corrosion resistance. Where the application of ND-YAG laser technology, a highly relevant and timely area, was investigated deeply. The Q-switching Nd: YAG Laser was used with varying laser energy levels within the context of the laser shock peening (LSP) technique. The corrosion resistance of the 316 ss alloy is evaluated in a corrosive environment of 500 mL of saliva (with a pH of 5.6) through electrochemical corrosion testing. Corrosion rate was determined based on the analysis of polarization curves. The outcomes of this research reveal that as the laser energy was increased, there was a noticeable enhancement in the mechanical properties of the 316 ss alloy’s surface. Importantly, the corrosion rate experiences a significant reduction, decreasing from 4.94 mm/yr to 3.59 mm/yr following laser shock peening (LSP) application.