Laser ablation is the controlled removal of material from a solid surface by irradiating it with a laser beam.
Industries including automotive, printing and textiles use laser ablation for surface cleaning or surface modification such as texturing to allow adhesive bonding. It is an attractive technique because it eliminates the need for harmful chemicals and consumables. A CO2 or femtosecond laser source can remove a coating or the base material itself. By breaking the molecular bonds within the material and vaporising it the contactless laser process ensures that the right amount of material is removed.
This brochure outlines the benefits of using lasers for surface-processing applications.
