New marking additive for low-powered C[O.sub.2] lasers.A new additive allows marking of plastics--especially the "challenging" polyolefins--with low-powered CO2 lasers. Sherwood Technology of Widnes, Cheshire, U.K., developed DataLase Masterbatch for direct addition in extrusion or injection molding injection molding n. A manufacturing process for forming objects, as of plastic or metal, by heating the molding material to a fluid state and injecting it into a mold. . The company plans to sell the product in North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. through distributors. The inorganic pigment is said to be non-toxic and an extremely efficient energy absorber at the infrared wavelengths emitted by CO2 lasers. The pigment absorbs laser energy and converts it to heat, which produces a color change from white to black. A stable and high-contrast image is said to result. Until now, it's been difficult for low-powered CO2 lasers to mark plastics, particularly PE and PP, forcing processors to opt for higher-powered CO2 lasers and YAG lasers. Other laser-marking additives tend to require higher activation energy activation energy, in chemistry, minimum energy needed to cause a chemical reaction. A chemical reaction between two substances occurs only when an atom, ion, or molecule of one collides with an atom, ion, or molecule of the other. and cause charring of the surrounding plastic, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Sherwood. The new masterbatch is said to withstand processing temperatures up to around 482 F and requires as little as 1% addition level to produce legible leg·i·ble adj. 1. Possible to read or decipher: legible handwriting. 2. Plainly discernible; apparent: legible weaknesses in character and disposition. text. Tel: +44 151-423-9360 * www.sherwoodtech.com |
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