Thermal Effect on Thin-Film Formation of the Polymer Sheets by the CO2 Laser with the Copper Base

A method that makes polymer sheets partially thinner with continuous-wave carbon dioxide (CO2) lasers has been developed. This method can create thin polymer films by attaching the polymer sheets to the copper base by vacuum suction through the holes in the base. Applying the method to polypropylene...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polymers 2022-08, Vol.14 (17), p.3508
Main Authors: Kameyama, Nobukazu, Yoshida, Hiroki
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aluminum
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide lasers
Chemical vapor deposition
Continuous radiation
Cooling effects
Copper
Decomposition
Fluid dynamics
Fluid flow
Fourier transforms
FTIR spectrometers
Grooves
Heat conductivity
Infrared spectrometers
Laser beams
Lasers
Mathematical models
Physical properties
Polyethylene terephthalate
Polymer films
Polymers
Polystyrene resins
Polytetrafluoroethylene
Power
Sheets
Solvents
Suction
Temperature effects
Thermal analysis
Thermodynamic properties
Thin films
Two dimensional models
Viscosity
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Summary:A method that makes polymer sheets partially thinner with continuous-wave carbon dioxide (CO2) lasers has been developed. This method can create thin polymer films by attaching the polymer sheets to the copper base by vacuum suction through the holes in the base. Applying the method to polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), the thin-film formation is confirmed in PP, PET, and PS but not PTFE. These polymers have the similar thermal properties. PP, PET, and PS show fluidity with increased temperature, but PTFE does not have fluidity. These characteristics of the polymers indicate that the fluidity of polymer is the important characteristic for film formation. The experiments with PP and PET sheets of different thickness show that thicker sheets make thicker films. The fluid flow of the molten polymer is considered to form the thin film at the bottom of the groove made by laser scribing. The numerical simulation of the 2D thermal model also indicates the week cooling effects of the base on the film formation and importance of polymer fluidity. The results of Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR) show thermal degradation of the films. To decrease the heat’s effect on the films, the polymer sheets should be processed at the highest laser-beam scanning speed that can make thin films.
ISSN:2073-4360
2073-4360
DOI:10.3390/polym14173508