Laser shock peening (LSP): Electrochemical and hydrodynamic investigation of corrosion protection pre-treatment for a copper surface in 3.5 % NaCl medium

Besides electrochemical corrosion protection, laser shock peening provides extended fatigue life and mechanical properties for metals, as reported in the literature. However, most of the studies were performed under static conditions. The effectiveness of this method under flow conditions and prolonged immersion duration is addressed in this study. Copper discs were peened with Nd: YAG laser in the presence of ∼2 mm thickness of water and polyvinyl chloride to absorb the intensity and provide residual stress without surface damage. Electrochemical and hydrodynamic analyses indicate that the peened surface showed higher corrosion resistance in 3.5 % NaCl compared to the unpeened.