The influence of organobentonite clay on CO2 laser grooving of nylon 6 composites

The popular polycaprolactam (polyamide PA6), commonly referred to as nylon 6, widely used as a construction plastic, is not a typical material for micromachining by CO₂ laser vaporization. In this paper, we describe investigations of the pulsed CO₂ laser grooving of both the chemically pure and the organobentonite clay modified nylon 6. Our results indicate that doping of nylon 6 with nanoparticles of organophilized bentonite significantly improves the grooving ability, predictability of the process, and its quality. In order to determine the nature of the changes in the depth and width of the grooves as a function of the laser process parameters, theoretical modeling of the laser grooving of nylon was carried out. The basic parameters of the laser grooving process versus laser beam intensity, pulse repetition rate, scanning speed of the material and various compositions of the organophilized bentonite dopant are presented. Additionally, an example of a three-dimensional engraving/milling of tested materials as well as the impact of doping on the channel profile are examined. The modification of nylon 6 by appropriate doping with bentonite clay radically improves the quality of micromachining with a CO₂ laser.