Increased cutting efficiency due to multi-wavelength remote-laser-ablation of fiber-reinforced polymers

Tailored processes are required to increase the acceptance of fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) in industry. For this purpose, the application of hybrid yarn facilitates short flow paths of the matrix systems and thus comparatively low consolidation pressures. This should be accompanied by appropriate fast processes. The remote-laser-ablation expands the area of processing strategies, so that the laser has the potential to be a tool for the future. Laser cutting of FRP is an ambitious process because of the inhomogeneity of the reinforcement material and the polymer matrix material. The present paper shows an experimental set up for combining beam radiation with wavelengths of 1.09 and 10.6 µm.