RAZOR SHARP AND INDELIBLE LASER MARKING OF PLASTICS

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RAZOR SHARP AND INDELIBLE LASER MARKING OF PLASTICS
20 October 2004 - DSM Engineering Plastics

Razor sharp and indelible laser marking on virtually any plastic is possible with DSM’s Micabs technology, a revolutionary additive technology for laser marking on plastics.

Invented by DSM researchers, Micabs is an environmentally friendly, universal solution allowing razor-sharp and indelible laser writing on virtually any plastic. It provides the answer to problems with contrast, resolution and speed when marking darker images and/or text on light-coloured plastic materials.

The image that can be produced with the Micabs technology is very sharp and the grey tints are so clearly defined that, to take one example, a passport photo measuring four square millimeters will retain sufficient clarity even when enlarged to as much as 1200 square millimeters.

The technology ensures a reproducible, consistent quality and can be applied with various processing techniques such as blow-moulding, injection-moulding, casting and foaming.

Unlike the current method of using a laser beam to carbonize the plastic itself, Micabs relies on the ingenious formulation of well-defined laser active particles to the polymer matrix. The colour change with laser exposure takes place within the particle, so that consistent marking is obtained irrespective of the polymer.

“It even works in difficult to mark polymers such as silicons and polyolefins,” Valerie Reid, business manager of Micabs, says.

Applications include numerous electronic applications, ID cards, animal tags, synthetic corks,, cosmetic packaging, tubing, closures and medical equipment.

http://www.dsmep.com

About: DSM Engineering Plastics
DSM Engineering Plastics is a business group forming part of DSM's Performance Materials cluster. DSM EP is a global supplier of Stanyl PA46 and Akulon 6 and 66 polyamides, Arnitel TPE-E, Arnite PBT and PET polyesters, Xantar polycarbonate, Yparex extrudable adhesive resins, and Stamylan UH Ultra High Molecular Weight PE. These materials are used in technical components for electrical appliances, electronic equipment and cars, in barrier packaging films as well as in many mechanical and extrusion applications. The business group had annual sales of EUR 566 million in 2003. With Stanyl, it is the global market leader in high heat polyamides.

Stanyl is a family of heat-resistant polyamides from DSM Engineering Plastics. Stanyl’s high crystallinity (70% versus 50% for conventional PA66) results in high heat distortion temperatures of 190C for unreinforced grades, up to 290C for reinforced. Stanyl grades are used in automotive clutch plates, charge air coolers, chain tensioners; electrical components including motor frames and end laminates, circuit breakers, controls and connectors; and home and power tool components, including heat shields and heat-resistant utensils.

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