Product Code: ICA13_1907

Study of Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced-Polymer Under Moderate Laser Intensity. Application to Laser Drilling.
Authors:
Frederic Coste , Cnrs/Pimm; Paris France
Frederic Vales, Cnrs/Pimm; Paris France
Laurent Berthe, CNRS - Arts et Metiers/Lab PIMM; Paris France
Presented at ICALEO 2013

Carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers are increasingly used especially in structural parts for new aircraft. However, laser machining is not well implemented for cutting or drilling because significant collaterals effects remain. In this paper, we propose a study of laser-matter interaction at moderate flows (<1MW/cm2) of T700 CFRP. The dynamics of the process is observed by high speed camera (20000 img / s). It shows a rapid evaporation of the matrix, the rupture and the ejection of carbon fibers. After a fast evaporation of the first polymer layer, a steady state is set up. drilling velocity measurements are also performed. The residual state of matter is also observed as a function of laser parameters.