Laser marking

Laser marking is a non-contact process for the individual or serial marking of plastic parts using a CO2 laser.

The partial input of thermal energy produces a colour change in the plastic surface. CO2 lasers with a wavelength of 10.6 µm or diode-pumped solid-state lasers (fibre lasers) with a wavelength of 1.06 µm are used. A colour change can be achieved by foaming, carbonising, bleaching or by adding pigments.

Markings in medical technology. Engravings or other markings that alter the surface can hardly be kept free of germs. A surface alteration can be avoided with many transparent plastics. A laser-sensitive TiO2 pigment is added to the raw material. In this way, without any surface alteration, i.e. lying within the component, a character image can be produced by focusing the laser.