TECHNOLOGY | LASER MARKING
Right: Fast reacting laser additives are required for film applica- tions to prevent damage to the film itself
Another company active in the area of laser marking additives is Innocabs in The Netherlands. It has a portfolio of masterbatches based on commercial and proprietary laser additives under its Inca brand. These provide optimised laser marking functionality and also a customisable laser welding capability.
Innocabs has a 2018 European patent describ- ing a composition that enables fast response and high contrast. The additive comprises a metal oxide based on antimony (antimony-trioxide or antimony- doped tin oxide), a polyol, and a polymer (typically a polyamide or polyester). The company says in the patent that “it is believed that the polyol carbonises during irradiation of the laser marking additive and improves the laser marking of a matrix material.” Referring to earlier patents covering various
types of laser marking additives, Innocabs says the technologies described produce various levels of resolution and contrast, but the contrast obtained, “especially at (very) high marking speeds is still relatively low. Moreover, high contrast is mainly obtained while marking with high laser pulse energies. Marking should therefore preferably be performed in focus of the laser beam which limits the marking area per pulse and hence increases marking time.”
Many polymer suppliers and compounders now
offer products with laser marking capability, but development work continues to improve perfor- mance. A typical example is German masterbatch producer AF-Color, which says it and its parent company Akro-Plastic have built up many years of experience in developing laser-markable and laser-transparent compounds and masterbatch formulations. AF-Color says market developments and customer enquiries are showing that the trend towards holistic solutions is steadily increasing.
Right: Laser marking results using combi- masterbatches from AF-Color in a polyamide matrix show the bright contrast on deep black often requested for automotive applications
“The quality of laser marking of most polymers is quite poor, leading to a demand of highly effective laser additives,” the company says. “The laser-ab- sorbing (LA) product line from AF-Color meets the demand for different polymers and requirements.”
Combined solutions For special applications, combi-masterbatches containing additive and colour are the optimal choice “as they bring maximum flexibility com- bined with enormous colour strength and excellent contrast,” the company says. “Whether dark, light or coloured markings on a natural, black or coloured substrate, almost every combination is possible.” Masterbatch specialist Ampacet has developed the LaserMarkFlexportfolio of masterbatches for high definition laser marking on flexible film using Nd:YAG technology. The product range consists of LaserMarkFlex 1081, which is formulated for black/ dark grey marking, and LaserMarkFlex 1135, intended for lighter grey marking with broader food approval status (EC and FDA). Both contain no antimony.
Ampacet says LaserMarkFlex, whichit says is
fullycompliant with circular economy design guidelines, enables monochrome permanent and anti-counterfeit marking and provides a robust, waterproof, lightfast and chemical and abrasion- resistant surface. LaserMarkFlexmasterbatches are suitable for use in monolayer as well as coextruded film structures and can be used to print logos, barcodes, expiration or best-before dates, and serial numbers on labels and packaging. The company has also introduced Laser Mark 1001074-E and Laser Mark 1001088-E, which it describes as cost-effective solutions that enable high definition, high contrast laser marking on clear and dark surfaces using NdYAG laser systems. Laser Mark 1001074-E produces sharp dark markings on transparent or light-coloured plastic
56 COMPOUNDING WORLD | July 2022
www.compoundingworld.com
IMAGE: AF-COLOR
IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK/AMPACET
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