The Influence of CeF3 and KPF6 in Ultraviolet (UV) Laser Beam Ablation of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Matrix Composites
L-Y. Wang, Y. Liu, J. Huang, W. Wang and Y-X. Wu
The polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) matrix composites filled with two different additives including KPF6 and CeF3 were ablated by an ultraviolet (UV) laser beam emitted from frequency-tripled Nd:YAG laser. The topography and microstructure on the ablation and base surface of PTFE composites were analysed with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The mechanism of the UV laser beam ablation influenced by KPF6 and CeF3 was studied. The KPF6 is easier to be ablated by UV laser beam than the matrix .With increasing the content of KPF6, there was no significant promotion on the UV laser beam ablation of PTFE matrix. Meantime, CeF3 can enhance the UV laser beam ablation effect of PTFE matrix.
Keywords: Ultraviolet (UV) laser beam, laser ablation, CeF3/KPF6, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) matrix composites, Nd:YAG laser, frequency-tripled