Applied Surface Science, Vol.168, No.1-4, 170-174, 2000
Spectroscopic characteristics of the plume generated during laser ablation of a ceramic-polymer composite
The characteristics of Nd:YAG ablation of a 1:1 SiC-polysiloxane mixture and the polysiloxane material have been investigated, using time integrated spectroscopy and optical microscopic analysis. Spectroscopic results show a significant contribution of the plasma emissions can be attributed to the ceramic component of the mixture, while the polymer itself produces a thermal-like background emission spectrum, with only a single carbon emission line. It is possible to conclude that the ablation of the ceramic is the dominant parameter for the removal of the SiC-polysiloxane mixture, suggesting that the polymer only acts as a bonding material and is dissociated almost instantly. An interpretation of the ablation rates and the measured optical parameters is attempted.