Zhong W, Cao Z, Qiu P, Wu D, Liu C, Li H, Zhu H. Laser-Marking Mechanism of Thermoplastic Polyurethane/Bi2O3 Composites.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2015;
7:24142-9. [PMID:
26467090 DOI:
10.1021/acsami.5b07406]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Using bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) as a laser-marking additive and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) as the matrix, TPU/Bi2O3 composite materials were prepared by melt blending in a torque rheometer. The sheet samples prepared from the TPU/Bi2O3 composites were treated in air by scanning with a neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd: YAG) pulsed laser beam at a wavelength of 1064 nm. Compared with the pure TPU sample, the laser-marked composite samples exhibited differences in marking contrast as the Bi2O3 content increased from 0.1% to 1.0% based on stereomicroscope analysis. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetry analysis, and X-ray diffraction were used to characterize the laser-marked surface material of the composite samples. Furthermore, a mechanism for the laser-effected darkening of the TPU/Bi2O3 composites was proposed. The results herein indicated that the addition of the Bi2O3 laser-sensitive additive to TPU resulted in laser darkening of the TPU/Bi2O3 composites. The marking contrast and visual appearance of the surface of the TPU/Bi2O3 composites after laser irradiation was due to a synergistic effect consisting of carbonization via TPU pyrolysis and reduction of Bi2O3 to black bismuth metal.
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