Precision cutting of polyvinyl chloride film by ultraviolet nanosecond laser

ABSTRACT

Ultraviolet (UVUV) nanosecond laser cutting of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) films was evaluated by experimental design and laser ablation principle. Factors such as laser power, cutting speed, and repetition numbers of laser cutting will influence the quality of cutting seam. Narrower width of cutting seam (55.1$\pm$4.6 $\mu m$) and smaller area of heat-affected zone (HAZ) (25.5$\pm$2.4 $\mu \mathrm{m}$) were obtained when processing parameters combination chosen as 0.2 W-20 mm/s-5 (laser power, laser cutting speed, repetition numbers of laser cutting). In the meantime, no obvious taper was observed. The feasibility of UV laser precise cutting of PVC film was quantitively demonstrated.

Mechanism of laser cutting of PVC film was laser ablation according to Raman analysis and rapid pyrolysis analysis. Gas by-products such as hydrogen chloride, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and organic compounds with benzene ring structure generated during laser cutting process were potentially toxic. Therefore, corresponding protective measures must be taken during laser processing of PVC film.

KEYWORDS:

• Lasers
• cutting
• processes
• polyvinyl
• chloride
• mechanism
• ablation
• weightlessness
• by-products

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation [2020TQ0110]; National Natural Science Foundation of China [51905191,52005206]; Key Research & Development Plan of Hubei Province [2020BAB051]; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digital Manufacturing Equipment [2020B1212060014]; Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation [2020A1515011393]; Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s special project for high-quality development of manufacturing industry [TC200H02H]; National Key R&D Program of China [2020YFB2007600]; Scientific Research Plan Guiding Project of Hubei Province Education Department [B2019246].