Heat affected zones in polymer laser marking

Laser marking is based on the laser heating of the subjected material, the heating being below the melting temperature or thermal degradation starting point. Within and nearby the mark, the material is chemically, physically and mechanically affected. This means that the main characteristics are changing in such a way that the material is ageing. Thermal and mechanical analysis can be used to determine the modification of the material, which is important and necessary to know for predicting its use lifetime. This paper investigates the physical and mechanical modification of the polymer HDPE100, when laser marking is applied. Burst stress, elongation and relaxation modulus were determined for the base material, within the heat affected zone and within the laser burned mark. Information on the crystallization rate and on the elongation viscosity is also reported. According to the results, the polyethylene has very fast crystallization and that affects the marking process if lower than appropriate maintaining during heating process is applied. It becomes stabile after 0.23 min, when it is tested at 103 °C. The elongation viscosity was analysed and values of 10⁵ Pa s were recorded for 10 s, which is a usual time of applying pressure. The performed analysis revealed about 10 % difference between the relaxation modulus of the irradiated and non-irradiated HDPE.