Microscale morphological alterations in carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites via ultraviolet picosecond laser ablation

Exploration of laser interactions with Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites (CFRP) is gaining traction in micro-engineering of complex materials. This study harnesses ultraviolet (UV) picosecond pulse laser technology to modify the surface morphology of CFRP. Through a detailed microstructural analysis employing a three-dimensional surface morphology analyzer and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the effects of UV laser power and scanning speed on CFRP surfaces were examined. The investigation determined that at a constant repetition frequency of 500 kHz, increasing the laser power while maintaining a scanning speed of 800 mm/s led to reduced surface roughness, with Sa and Ra values declining from 15.159 µm and 4.138 µm to 6.473 µm and 3.538 µm, respectively. Furthermore, at a laser power of 9W, a reduction in scanning speed resulted in decreased residual resin, achieving a clean surface at 400 mm/s without resin recast and minimal fiber damage. These results highlight the importance of optimizing laser parameters for effective CFRP surface cleaning, paving the way for improved processing of composite materials.