The processing of polymer surfaces by laser radiation is investigated as a function of laser parameters (fluence, mode of operation) and processing variables (repetition rate, pulse number). Polymers under investigation are polyamide, polymethylmethacrylate, polypropylene, polystyrene, polycarbonate, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, polybutadiene terephtalate, and polyoxymethylene, which are studied in air within different processing regimes such as modification of surface properties for subsequent metallization and removal of material for structuring of surface geometry. The metallization of polymers, which are pretreated by laser irradiation, wet chemical etching or plasma etching, is performed via electroplating and physical vapour deposition as a function of surface properties. The removal of polymers including non-thermal and thermal processes is done by direct processing techniques in the demagnification mode within one processing step. The diagnosis and the modelling of physical processes involved in tailoring the surface properties of polymers with laser radiation have to be implied to improve any application of these materials.
