XECL LASER ABLATION OF POLYETHERETHERKETONE

Ablation of polyetheretherketone (PEEK), a high temperature thermoplastic, by XeCl laser radiation occurs at fluences in excess of 0.07±0.01 J cm-2. The volatile products of ablation are CO and C2H2 with smaller quantities of CH4, C4H2, C6H6 and other C3 and C4 hydrocarbons. At fluences close to the threshold ablation produces involatile material of relatively high molecular weight but at high fluences extensive disruption of the PEEK structure occurs with conversion of all of the oxygen in the polymer to carbon monoxide. © 1990 Springer-Verlag.