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Plastics are integral to our life, found in countless products ranging from consumer electronics to automotive components. Their versatility, lightweight nature, and cost-effectiveness make them a preferred choice in various industries. However, as the use of plastics expands, so does the need for effective marking solutions. Marking on plastic products or parts is essential for traceability, identification, and safety, especially to comply with industry regulations. Proper marking ensures that products can be tracked throughout their lifecycle, provides vital information to consumers, and helps manufacturers meet safety standards. Among the various marking methods on plastic surfaces, laser marking stands out for being contactless, high-speed, and permanent.
Laser marking can create dates, logos, numbers, text, barcodes, or 2D codes. When it comes to marking plastics, laser technology offers distinct advantages over traditional methods such as inkjet printing, hand marking, dot peening, and chemical etching. Unlike conventional marking methods, laser marking on plastics is fast, non-contact, and can be performed without heat depending on the type of laser used. This method eliminates the hassle of frequent tip changes and burr corrections, enabling a consistent and repetitive process that minimizes the risk of damaging plastic products.
Precision and Detail: Lasers can produce intricate designs and fine details without physical contact with the plastic surfaces, minimizing the risk of damage on materials that are easily deformed by contact.
Durability of Marks: Laser markings on plastic substrates are often more resistant to fading, scratching, and chemical exposure compared to inkjet prints or hand marks, which can degrade over time. That's why we usually regard laser marks as permanent.
Speed and Efficiency: Laser marking can be a fast process depending on the laser types and settings, ideal for high-volume plastic components production lines, ensuring that marking does not become a bottleneck for production efficiency.
Non-contact Process: Unlike methods like dot peening and chemical etching, laser marking does not physically alter the material, reducing wear and tear on both the marking equipment and the substrate.
Environmental Benefits: Choosing laser marking for plastics is a cleaner process, generating minimal waste and not requiring inks or solvents, making it a more sustainable option.
These advantages make laser marking a perfect match for plastic products and parts, like plastic bottles, plastic tags, in industries that require reliable and high-quality markings.
Different types of lasers are suited for marking various plastics, each offering unique benefits. Here are some examples of UV laser, CO2 laser and fiber laser.
Wavelength: 355 nm.
UV laser marking machines are best for delicate plastics that may be sensitive to heat. Such as:
Soft and Heat-Sensitive Plastics: Like polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS).
Technical Plastics: Such as polycarbonate (PC), ABS, and PVC.
UV lasers can mark these materials without causing warping, melting, or discoloration. The advantages of using UV laser include it produces high-quality, high-contrast markings without causing thermal damage, ideal for applications in medical devices and electronics.
Example: 15W UV laser marking 2D code on plastic bottle cap
Wavelength: typically 10.6 micrometers. Other wavelengths like 10.3 μm or 9.6 μm are also used for specific marking purposes.
CO2 laser marking machines are best for a wide range of non-metals, including many plastics. For example, acrylic (PMMA), polycarbonate, PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride), ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene, PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate), and polystyrene.
CO2 lasers are excellent for both engraving and cutting, providing deep and clear marks on plastics.
Example: CO2 laser marking produced and best before date on plastic water bottle
Wavelength: 1060nm.
Fiber laser marking machines are best for marking on certain plastics, especially those with metallic coatings.
High-Performance Plastics: Fiber lasers can mark high-performance polymers, such as PEEK, polycarbonate (PC), ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), and some nylon blends. While fiber lasers generate heat, they can be adjusted to produce clear marks on these plastics without significant melting.
Dark or Filled Plastics: Some fiber lasers can mark dark-colored plastics or those with laser-sensitive additives. Materials like polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) can sometimes be marked, but they may require careful parameter adjustments.
Using fiber lasers for plastic marking has the advantaged of faster marking speeds and lower operating costs, effective for surface marking and engraving.
Example: 20W Fiber laser marking date and PN on PVC hose
Laser marking technology is utilized across various industries for a multitude of applications.
Automotive Industry: Laser marking is extensively used for marking plastic parts with barcodes, serial numbers, and logos, ensuring traceability and compliance with industry standards.
Consumer Electronics: Devices such as smartphones and laptops often feature laser-engraved logos and safety information, providing a permanent solution that withstands wear and tear.
Medical Devices: In the medical field, laser marking is crucial for permanently marking medical instruments and packaging, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and enhancing traceability.
Aerospace: Plastic components in the aerospace sector are marked for identification and quality control, with laser markings providing reliable and durable solutions.
Packaging: Laser marking is used to code and mark plastic packaging materials, ensuring that products carry necessary information for consumers and retailers.
Toys and Consumer Goods: Safety information and branding are often laser-marked on plastic toys and consumer products, providing assurance to parents and consumers.
Application Videos:
In summary, laser marking on plastics is a vital process that enhances product identification, traceability, and compliance with regulations. With its numerous advantages over traditional marking methods, laser technology has become the standard for high-quality, durable marking solutions across various industries.
At MEENJET, we supply fiber, UV, and CO2 laser marking machines for metals and non-metals. We recognize how crucial accurate traceability marks are, which is why our lasers come equipped with features designed to guarantee flawless markings.
