A study of laser-engraving surfaces portability on polymer for the automotive industry

Abstract : The automotive industry is facing a multitude of laser-engraving’s technical solutions for decorative application. However, the reproducibility of laser-engraving’s surface results is not guaranteed at that time. A study of transferability of the process was carried out on four different types of laser-engraving machines in order to understand the phenomena involved and to be able to get rid of it. The samples studied consist in industrial reference polymers already used for application of decorative automotive part: Polypropylene (PP), Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and a blend of Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and polycarbonate (ABS-PC).