Ablation of selected thermoplastic polymers using an Nd:YAG laser

Abstract This article presents the results of a study on laser ablation selected thermoplastic polymers using an economical fiber with scanning galvanometer system and IR wavelength λ = 1064 nm. The aimed to develop comparative characteristics processes commonly used constructional thermoplastics, namely acrylonitrile butadiene styrene terpolymer (ABS), polystyrene (PS), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), polylactide (PLA), polyamide 6 (PA6). tested materials were determined, depth surface structures calculated presented. A analysis contact angle, free energy, strength adhesive connections modified radiation unmodified was performed. showed that dynamics much higher in ABS, PS, PET, PC than PLA PA6. Although modification layer polymeric material did not have significant impact energy wettability sample surface, it increased even several times (in PET) lowest consumption. also demonstrated some polymers, such as ABS or can be effectively treated near-infrared this wavelength, which is particularly important for marking details.