It is important to accurately measure and predict the laser light transmission through unreinforced and reinforced thermoplastics if candidate materials are to be assessed for laser transmission welding (LTW) applications. This paper presents the results of laser transmission measurements through unreinforced polyamide 6 (PA6) and 10% glass fiber reinforced polycarbonate of various thicknesses and corresponding to various laser incidence angles (angle between the incident laser beam and the normal to the transparent part). A novel transmission measurement method, developed by the authors, was employed. A model, utilizing the Fresnel specular surface reflection conditions as well as accounting for refraction, absorption and reflection of the laser light through the bulk material, was used to predict transmission as a function of thickness and laser incidence angle. Results of transmission tests on both materials showed that, for a given thickness, the transmission decreases as the laser angle of incidence increases. In addition, at any given laser incidence angle, the transmission decreases as the thickness increases. The advantage of the model is that it requires only one experimentally determined constant for a given material. Good agreement existed between the experimentally measured transmission and the model prediction for the range of thicknesses and laser incidence angles studied.
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December 2012
Research-Article
Laser Light Transmission Through Thermoplastics as a Function of Thickness and Laser Incidence Angle: Experimental and Modeling
Elizabeth Azhikannickal,
Philip J. Bates,
Philip J. Bates
e-mail: bates-p@rmc.ca
Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering,
Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering,
Royal Military College of Canada
,P.O. Box 17000, Station Forces
,Kingston, ON, K7K 7B4
, Canada
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Gene Zak
Gene Zak
Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering,
e-mail: zak@me.queensu.ca
Queen's University
,McLaughlin Hall
,Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6
, Canada
e-mail: zak@me.queensu.ca
Search for other works by this author on:
Elizabeth Azhikannickal
e-mail: azhikae@gmail.com
Philip J. Bates
e-mail: bates-p@rmc.ca
Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering,
Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering,
Royal Military College of Canada
,P.O. Box 17000, Station Forces
,Kingston, ON, K7K 7B4
, Canada
Gene Zak
Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering,
e-mail: zak@me.queensu.ca
Queen's University
,McLaughlin Hall
,Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6
, Canada
e-mail: zak@me.queensu.ca
Contributed by the Manufacturing Engineering Division of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF MANUFACTURING SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING. Manuscript received January 9, 2011; final manuscript received August 12, 2012; published online November 12, 2012. Assoc. Editor: Yong Huang.
J. Manuf. Sci. Eng. Dec 2012, 134(6): 061007 (6 pages)
Published Online: November 12, 2012
Article history
Received:
January 9, 2011
Revision Received:
August 12, 2012
Citation
Azhikannickal, E., Bates, P. J., and Zak, G. (November 12, 2012). "Laser Light Transmission Through Thermoplastics as a Function of Thickness and Laser Incidence Angle: Experimental and Modeling." ASME. J. Manuf. Sci. Eng. December 2012; 134(6): 061007. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4007619
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