TECHNOLOGY | LASER MARKING
IMAGE: MERCK
In June, compound producer Avient unveiled the
Colorant Chromatics UV Laser Marking technology for use in high performance fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) wire and cable applications for the aerospace industry. Fluoropolymers such as FEP are capable of withstanding high heat and corrosive environments while also having very good dielectric properties and continuous service temperatures. “Today, the industry is focused on miniaturisa-
Above: Comparison of Merck’s Iriotec laser pigment performance at various
addition levels in PP and PBT polymers
tary function, alongside other properties such as flame resistance. The Iriotec additives function through laser absorption, supporting a reaction in the polymer, or through a combination of laser absorption and a colour change within the additive itself. They can create dark marks in light-coloured compounds, or bright marks in dark compounds. All told, there are eight different types within the Iriotec 8000 Series, three of them creating bright markings, and five creating dark markings – two of which are in granular form (encapsulated laser additives) rather than powder. Granules can be sold directly to processors, while the powder grades go almost exclusively to compounders and masterbatchers.
Film developments One of the most recent developments at Merck has been pigment additives that can be used for laser marking films. The challenge in film marking is for the additive to react sufficiently quickly to enable the marking to be created without burning the polymer. The challenge gets greater as the sub- strate gets thinner. Rosenberger highlights the possibility of using laser marking as a sustainable technology for producing “digital passports” on plastics packaging to enhance recyclability. She says Iriotec 8850 is a good choice for marking products such as form-fill- seal bags, where dark markings can be put onto white films, due to its performance and cost in use. An addition rate of around 0.5% is required in the laser-active layer of the film.
Iriotec 8850 can also be used in cable com-
pounds, where it is possible to create markings in-line with extrusion at line speeds said to be higher than any other laser marking product. “Cable companies are now increasingly thinking about marking with lasers instead of printing wheels to provide increased flexibility,” says Rosenberger. She says reliability of laser printing compares very well against inkjet printing.
54 COMPOUNDING WORLD | July 2022
tion, resulting in the use of smaller, thinner wires,” says Avient. “But laser marking on thinner wire surfaces presents challenges. For example, traditional printing technologies can lead to the mark peeling off or surface damage can result from the use of infrared (IR) laser marking.” The new Colorant Chromatics UV Laser Marking technology enables permanent laser marking with very minimal impact to the thinner wire surfaces. In addition, the formulation enables good processing thanks to reduced lump formation. Anne Hippert, General Manager of the Colorant Chromatics group at Avient, says the technology can allow for a permanent, yet benign, mark on the FEP surface that achieves a 60-80% contrast and meets aero- space industry standards SAE AS4373F and EN-3475-706. It is offered for colours specified by the aeronautics industry, including light red, green, violet, blue, white and grey.
Laser effects Pigment specialist Sun Chemical includes several effect pigment products in its SunMica range that are intended for laser marking. They include SunMica Ultra Fine 286-6000, SunMica LUX Ultra Fine 286-3000, SunMica Sparkle 286-6400, SunMica LUX Fine Black 284-3140, and SunMica Black 284-0246. “We see a trend for simplifying packaging to
improve ease of recycling and customers are seeking a variety of solutions to achieve this target — moving away from labels and creating more mono-material packaging,” says Marko Ramp, Global Product Manager for Pearlescent Pigments at the company. “Brand owners are shifting from inks to laser marking to avoid using labels. For Sun Chemical, that means we direct them to different colour solutions. These laser marking additives aid in recyclability by avoiding solvents and labels that can complicate the recycling process in general.” He also points to the increasing use of laser marking on long lifetime products used in harsh environments (automotive components, cables, for example). These applications are often marked with inks, which may be unintentionally removed over extended periods of time.
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