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©2018 Synrad Inc.
There are 3 main types of material interactions when hit by the
CO2 laser beam:
• Vaporization
– The material vaporizes into gas residue which is blown out when cut.
This is the cleanest cutting / marking process.
• Melt Sharing
– The material melts into molten droplets which are blown out when cut.
There is typically some melt-back
• Chemical Degradation
– The plastic material chemically degrades typically releasing carbon smoke.
The material chars and has soot residue
Types of Laser Interactions with Plastics
©2018 Synrad Inc.
Types of Plastic
There are two main types of commonly used plastics. It is
important to distinguish between these two types as they have
very different cutting and marking characteristics:
THERMOPLSTICSTHERMOSETS
&
©2018 Synrad Inc.
Types of Plastics - Thermosets
Thermosets
These plastics’ polymer chains have more connections and
break down easily when heated. Thus, these plastics can not
be successfully melted without damaging the molecular
structure and the material changing color. Laser processing
is primarily accomplished by chemical degradation.
Consequently, there is discoloration and charring. These
plastics typically cut and weld very poorly because of this but
generally provide high contrast marks with some slight
residue on the surface.
©2018 Synrad Inc.
Types of Plastics - Thermoplastics
Thermoplastics
These plastics’ polymer chains are simpler and have less
bonding connections. Thus, the plastics can be melted easily
without the polymer chains breaking down. Laser cutting is
primarily accomplished by melt shearing. Marking is
accomplished by melting the surface of the plastic to provide
a slightly engraved mark. Since there is usually no material
color change, the laser cuts are much better quality but
conversely the laser marks have much lower visibility.
©2018 Synrad Inc.
Types of Plastics - ExamplesCommon plastics of each type include:
Thermosets:
• Rubber based products
• Polyimide
• Epoxy Resins
• FR2/FR4
Thermoplastics:
• Polypropylene
• Polyethylene
• Polystyrene
• Nylon
• ABS*
• Polycarbonate*
• PVC*
* Exhibits atypical behavior for a thermoplastic
©2018 Synrad Inc.
Types of Plastic - Exceptions
The following thermoplastics experience chemical degradation as well:
• ABS
– Moderate Discoloration when cut; No color changes when marked.
• Polycarbonate
– Brown/Yellow charring.
• PVC
– Brown/Yellow charring.
• Plastics which are glass filled
– Glass-filled plastics typically will have black/brown color changes while
the same unfilled plastic will not. A good example of this is Nylon.
©2018 Synrad Inc.
Summary Table of Plastic Types (page 1)
Name
Also
Known As Type
Laser
Wavelength
General Cut
Quality General Mark Quality
Barcode Mark
Successful Safety
ABS Thermoplastic 10.6 µm
n Poor-Fair: Slight
discoloration of
cut edge
n Poor-Fair: Slightly
engraved marksn No
Acrylic (Cast)PMMA
PlexiglasThermoplastic
10.6 µmn Fair: Clean
vaporization with
milky cut edge
n Good: Frosted white
mark
n Sometimes:
Depends on
background
color
Acrylic
(Extruded)
PMMA
PlexiglasThermoplastic 10.6 µm
n Good: Clean
vaporization with
clear edge
n Fair-Good: Clean
engrave marksn No
Bakelite Thermoset10.6 µm n Poor: Some
Charring
n Good: Low power: White
marks; High power:
Charred engraved marks
n Sometimes:
Depends on
background
color
Fluropolymers
PTFE,
Teflon,
EFTE
Thermoplastic10.6 µm
9.3 µm
n Good: Some
melt
n Fair-Good: Clean
engrave marksn No
FR4/FR2 PCB Thermoset
Cut: 9.3 µm
Mark:10.6 µm
n Poor: Brown
Charring;
sometimes
degating is
successful
n Good: Dark marks on
uncoated surface; Light
marks on solder masks
n Yes
Nylon Thermoplastic 10.6 µmn Good: Moderate
melt
n Fair-Good: Engrave
marks with some melt-
back
n No
Nylon
(Glass Filled)
10.6 µmn Fair-good: Some
discoloration of
cut edge;
n Good: Dark marks n Yes
Polycarbonate
Lexan,
Calibre,
Makrolon,
Panlite,
Makrolife
Thermoplastic9.3 µm n Poor: Brown
Charring;
n Good: Low Power:
White/Transparent Mark.
High Power:
Brown/Yellow marks
n Yes
Thick
smoke
when cut
©2018 Synrad Inc.
Summary Table of Plastic Types (page 2)
Name
Also
Known As Type
Laser
Wavelength General Cut Quality General Mark Quality
Barcode Mark
Successful Safety
Polyester
Mylar,
PET,
PETE,
PETG
Thermoplastic9.3 µm
n Good: Some melt;
PETG needs high
assist gas pressure
~60psi
n Fair-Good: Engrave
marks with some
melt-back
n Sometimes:
Depends on
background
color
Polyethylene
HPDE,
MDPE,
LDPE,
UHMW
Thermoplastic 10.6 µm
n Fair-good:
Moderate to large
melt
n Bad-fair: Engraved
marks with melt-
back; no color
change
n No
Polyimide Kapton Thermoset9.3 µm n Poor: Brown/Black
Charring
n Fair-good: Dark
marks with some
soot residue
n Yes
Polyoxymethylene
POM,
Delrun,
Polyacetal
Thermoplastic 10.6 µm n Good: Some meltn Fair-good: Clean
engrave marksn No
Formalde-
hyde gas
Polypropylene Thermoplastic10.2 µm
n Good: Some melt;
Sometimes slight
discoloration
n Fair-good: Deep
engrave marks &
slight melt-back
n Sometimes:
(2D codes)
Polystyrene Thermoplastic10.6 µm
n Fair-good:
Moderate melt &
residue
n Fair-good: Engrave
marks with some
melt-back
n No
Polysulfone Thermoplastic10.6 µm
n Fair-good:
Moderate melt &
residue
n Fair-good: Engrave
marks with melt-
back; Wet residue
n No
Polyurethane9.3 µm
n Fair-good:
Moderate melt &
residue
n Poor-Fair: Slightly
engraved marksn No HCN GAS
PVC Vinyl Thermoplastic10.6 µm
n Poor: Brown/yellow
charring; VERY
HAZARDOUS out-
gassing
n Good: Brown/Yellow
marks; Some
residue
n Yes
HCL GAS:
DO NOT
CUT!
Rubber Thermoset10.6 µm n Good: Vaporizes
with some residue
n Good: Deep engrave
marks with some
residue
n Sometimes:
(2D codes)
Dense sooty
smoke.
©2018 Synrad Inc.
ABS
Cutting Example Marking Example
Name
Also
Known As Type
Laser
Wavelength
General Cut
Quality General Mark Quality
Barcode Mark
Successful Safety
ABS Thermoplastic 10.6 µm
n Poor-Fair: Slight
discoloration of
cut edge
n Poor-Fair: Slightly
engraved marksn No
©2018 Synrad Inc.
Acrylic
Extruded Cutting Example Cast Marking Examples
Name
Also
Known As Type
Laser
Wavelength
General Cut
Quality General Mark Quality
Barcode Mark
Successful Safety
Acrylic (Cast)PMMA
PlexiglasThermoplastic
10.6 µmn Fair: Clean
vaporization with
milky cut edge
n Good: Frosted white
mark
n Sometimes:
Depends on
background
color
Acrylic
(Extruded)
PMMA
PlexiglasThermoplastic 10.6 µm
n Good: Clean
vaporization with
clear edge
n Fair-Good: Clean
engrave marksn No
©2018 Synrad Inc.
Bakelite
Marking Example
Name
Also
Known As Type
Laser
Wavelength
General Cut
Quality General Mark Quality
Barcode Mark
Successful Safety
Bakelite Thermoset10.6 µm n Poor: Some
Charring
n Good: Low power: White
marks; High power:
Charred engraved marks
n Sometimes:
Depends on
background
color
©2018 Synrad Inc.
Fluropolymers
Cutting Example(teflon)
Marking Example(teflon)
Name
Also
Known As Type
Laser
Wavelength
General Cut
Quality General Mark Quality
Barcode Mark
Successful Safety
Fluropolymers
PTFE,
Teflon,
EFTE
Thermoplastic10.6 µm
9.3 µm
n Good: Some
melt
n Fair-Good: Clean
engrave marksn No
©2018 Synrad Inc.
FR4/FR2
Degate Example Marking Example
Name
Also
Known As Type
Laser
Wavelength
General Cut
Quality General Mark Quality
Barcode Mark
Successful Safety
FR4/FR2 PCB Thermoset
Cut: 9.3 µm
Mark:10.6 µm
n Poor: Brown
Charring;
sometimes
degating is
successful
n Good: Dark marks on
uncoated surface; Light
marks on solder masks
n Yes
©2018 Synrad Inc.
Nylon
Cutting Example(left: fabric, right: mesh)
Marking Example
Name
Also
Known As Type
Laser
Wavelength
General Cut
Quality General Mark Quality
Barcode Mark
Successful Safety
Nylon Thermoplastic 10.6 µmn Good: Moderate
melt
n Fair-Good: Engrave
marks with some melt-
back
n No
©2018 Synrad Inc.
Nylon (Glass-Filled)
Cutting Example Marking Example
Name
Also
Known As Type
Laser
Wavelength
General Cut
Quality General Mark Quality
Barcode Mark
Successful Safety
Nylon
(Glass Filled)
10.6 µmn Fair-good: Some
discoloration of
cut edge;
n Good: Dark marks n Yes
©2018 Synrad Inc.
Polycarbonate
Cutting High Power Marking Low Power Marking
Name
Also
Known As Type
Laser
Wavelength
General Cut
Quality General Mark Quality
Barcode Mark
Successful Safety
Polycarbonate
Lexan,
Calibre,
Makrolon,
Panlite,
Makrolife
Thermoplastic9.3 µm n Poor: Brown
Charring;
n Good: Low Power:
White/Transparent Mark.
High Power:
Brown/Yellow marks
n Yes
Thick
smoke
when cut
©2018 Synrad Inc.
Polyester
Fabric Cutting Example Film Cutting Example
Film Cutting Example Marking Examples
Name
Also
Known As Type
Laser
Wavelength General Cut Quality General Mark Quality
Barcode Mark
Successful Safety
Polyester
Mylar,
PET,
PETE,
PETG
Thermoplastic9.3 µm
n Good: Some melt;
PETG needs high
assist gas pressure
~60psi
n Fair-Good: Engrave
marks with some
melt-back
n Sometimes:
Depends on
background
color
©2018 Synrad Inc.
Polyethylene
Cutting Example Marking Example
Name
Also
Known As Type
Laser
Wavelength General Cut Quality General Mark Quality
Barcode Mark
Successful Safety
Polyethylene
HPDE,
MDPE,
LDPE,
UHMW
Thermoplastic 10.6 µm
n Fair-good:
Moderate to large
melt
n Bad-fair: Engraved
marks with melt-
back; no color
change
n No
©2018 Synrad Inc.
Polyimide
Cutting Example Marking Examples
Name
Also
Known As Type
Laser
Wavelength General Cut Quality General Mark Quality
Barcode Mark
Successful Safety
Polyimide Kapton Thermoset9.3 µm n Poor: Brown/Black
Charring
n Fair-good: Dark
marks with some
soot residue
n Yes
©2018 Synrad Inc.
Polyoxymethylene
Cutting Example Marking Example
Name
Also
Known As Type
Laser
Wavelength General Cut Quality General Mark Quality
Barcode Mark
Successful Safety
Polyoxymethylene
POM,
Delrun,
Polyacetal
Thermoplastic 10.6 µm n Good: Some meltn Fair-good: Clean
engrave marksn No
Formalde-
hyde gas
©2018 Synrad Inc.
Polypropylene
Cutting Example Marking Example
Name
Also
Known As Type
Laser
Wavelength General Cut Quality General Mark Quality
Barcode Mark
Successful Safety
Polypropylene Thermoplastic10.2 µm
n Good: Some melt;
Sometimes slight
discoloration
n Fair-good: Deep
engrave marks &
slight melt-back
n Sometimes:
(2D codes)
©2018 Synrad Inc.
Polystyrene
Cutting Example Marking Example
Name
Also
Known As Type
Laser
Wavelength General Cut Quality General Mark Quality
Barcode Mark
Successful Safety
Polystyrene Thermoplastic10.6 µm
n Fair-good:
Moderate melt &
residue
n Fair-good: Engrave
marks with some
melt-back
n No
©2018 Synrad Inc.
Polyurethane
Film Drilling Example Marking ExampleFoam Cutting Example
Name
Also
Known As Type
Laser
Wavelength General Cut Quality General Mark Quality
Barcode Mark
Successful Safety
Polyurethane9.3 µm
n Fair-good:
Moderate melt &
residue
n Poor-Fair: Slightly
engraved marksn No HCN GAS
©2018 Synrad Inc.
PVC
Marking Example
Name
Also
Known As Type
Laser
Wavelength General Cut Quality General Mark Quality
Barcode Mark
Successful Safety
PVC Vinyl Thermoplastic10.6 µm
n Poor: Brown/yellow
charring; VERY
HAZARDOUS out-
gassing
n Good: Brown/Yellow
marks; Some
residue
n Yes
HCL GAS:
DO NOT
CUT!
©2018 Synrad Inc.
Rubber
Cutting Example Marking Example
Name
Also
Known As Type
Laser
Wavelength General Cut Quality General Mark Quality
Barcode Mark
Successful Safety
Rubber Thermoset10.6 µm n Good: Vaporizes
with some residue
n Good: Deep engrave
marks with some
residue
n Sometimes:
(2D codes)
Dense sooty
smoke.