{"id":1781,"date":"2021-12-29T12:53:09","date_gmt":"2021-12-29T12:53:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanta.com\/precision-manufacturing\/?post_type=novanta_tech_paper&p=1781"},"modified":"2026-07-24T15:51:56","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T15:51:56","slug":"optimal-processing-of-polypropylene-films-with-co2-lasers","status":"publish","type":"novanta_tech_paper","link":"https:\/\/novanta.com\/precision-manufacturing\/resources\/whitepapers\/optimal-processing-of-polypropylene-films-with-co2-lasers\/","title":{"rendered":"Optimal Processing of Polypropylene Films with CO2\u00a0Lasers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Technical Paper Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Optimal Polycarbonate Processing with CO\u2082 Lasers<\/strong>
Wavelength and frequency, not power, decide polycarbonate cut edge quality.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Polycarbonate is the right material for clear headlamp lenses, display covers, and tough medical housings \u2014 but it’s notorious for laser-cutting badly. The standard 10.6 \u00b5m CO\u2082 wavelength under-absorbs into the PC molecule, dissipates energy into surrounding material, and produces yellow-to-brown decomposition along the cut edge. For optical applications where the cut shows, that discoloration is the whole problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This technical paper documents a systematic Synrad-laser comparison across four parameter variables \u2014 wavelength (9.3 \u00b5m vs 10.6 \u00b5m), frequency (1 kHz to 50 kHz), assist gas type (air vs nitrogen), and assist gas pressure (1 bar to 4 bar) \u2014 on three polycarbonate grades (Makrolon\u00ae 2405 standard, 2447 UV-stabilized, 6555 flame-retardant) to identify the recipe that produces clean, colorless polycarbonate cuts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key takeaways include:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n