Laser welding: The spatter map

Spatter is among the main welding defects, causing deposited droplets as well as underfill or craters. Despite several successful measures to suppress spatter and some discoveries on the mechanism, a systematic guideline as well as a closed theory on spatter is missing, but desired. The paper presents an approach to categorize spatter experiences in a systematic, extendable manner, applied for the 46 literature entries found, in context with three recent findings. The Bifurcation Flow Chart, BFC, enables mapping of the trends and mechanisms revealed, combining even very different cases. It is hoped that the here presented methods and initial mappings will be applied and continuously extended to once complete the map of and control over spatter.Spatter is among the main welding defects, causing deposited droplets as well as underfill or craters. Despite several successful measures to suppress spatter and some discoveries on the mechanism, a systematic guideline as well as a closed theory on spatter is missing, but desired. The paper presents an approach to categorize spatter experiences in a systematic, extendable manner, applied for the 46 literature entries found, in context with three recent findings. The Bifurcation Flow Chart, BFC, enables mapping of the trends and mechanisms revealed, combining even very different cases. It is hoped that the here presented methods and initial mappings will be applied and continuously extended to once complete the map of and control over spatter.