On the mechanism of resonant infrared polymer ablation: the case of polystyrene

摘要

e investigate the fundamental mechanisms of resonant-infrared laser ablation of polymers using polystyrene as a model material. Time-resolved plume shadowgraphy coupled with laser-induced temperature-rise calculations indicate that spinodal decomposition of a superheated surface layer is the primary mechanism for the initial stages of material removal. The majority of the ablated material is then released by way of recoil-induced ejection of liquid which proceeds for some tens of microseconds following a 5 its laser pulse excitation. The recoil-induced ejection of liquid material as the dominant ablation mechanism helps to explain previous observations of laser deposition of intact polymeric material.