Efficiency and Quality of Infrared (IR) Femtosecond Laser Processing of Carbon-fibre-reinforced Polymer (CFRP) Composites
Zhong Zheng, Gang Huang, Wen Ju Feng and Dun Liu
To promote the industrial application of lasers in the high precision or micromachining of carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites, this work explored a compromise process strategy for both machining quality and material removal efficiency. CFRP was cut and drilled by femtosecond pulses laser with the wavelength of 1030 nm. The effects of laser processing parameters such as pulse repetition frequency, pulse energy and power on the volume ablation rate, material removal efficiency, thermal damage and kerf taper angle were explored, and the related mechanism of infrared (IR) femtosecond laser processing CFRP was discussed. The parameters combination for IR femtosecond laser processing CFRP was determined, so that the efficiency, kerf quality and mechanical properties were qualified; namely, the repetition frequency of 100 kHz and pulse energy of 40 μJ. The tensile strength of processed samples reached 519.3 MPa, which was 10.5% higher than that of drilled samples. This study can provide practical reference and theoretical basis for the large-scale application of laser processing CFRP.
Keywords: Femtosecond laser, carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite, laser cutting, laser drilling, ultrashort pulse, infrared (IR), material removal efficiency