Effect on Several Gas Ambiences for CFRP Processing with Nanosecond Laser

Abstract

A carbon fiber reinforced plastic [CFRP] is widely used for automobile, aircraft and so on, because of high strength, lightweight and weather resistance. It is difficult to cut a CFRP plate since it is composed of carbon fiber and epoxy resin. The CFRP plates were cut with nanosecond laser at the wavelengths of 1064 nm. After the laser irradiation, heat affected zones (HAZs) of CFRP plates were evaluated with scanning electron microscope and Raman spectroscopy to distinguish matrix evaporation zone (MEZ) from resin alteration zone (RAZ). The results indicated that the size of the MEZ formed under argon gas was smaller than that under air.