Study on the interaction of pulse-periodical CO2 and Xe atomic laser radiation with teflon and vinypros

The interaction of pulsed periodical CO2-(λ~10.6 µm), and Xe-(λ~1.73 μm) lasers radiation with surfaces of polymers has been studied. Correlation between parameters of surface erosion (area of crater and amount of evaporated material versus laser focus position and number of pulses) was investigated using teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene-PTFE) and vinypros (plasticized semi-transparent polyvinylchloride) sample. Monitoring of erosion track on surfaces was performed through optical microscopy. It has been shown that at pulsed periodical CO2-radiation interaction with teflon and vinypros the sputtering of polymers with formation of submicron-size particles occurs. Dependencies of particle sizes, form and sputtering velocity on laser pulse duration and target temperature have been obtained.