Visible laser microfabrication of transparent plastic using Au nanoparticles-dispersed polymer film

A polymer film in which Au nanoparticles with average diameter of around 3 nm dispersed in ethylcellulose was applied to an absorber for laser microfabrication of a transparent plastic. Since the polymer film has a strong absorption at the wavelength of around 530 nm, it can be micromachined using focused low power Nd:YVO4–SHG laser (CW, wavelength of 532 nm). When laser beam was irradiated on the polymer film coated on transparent substrate, the substrate under the polymer film which has no absorbance in the range of wavelength of laser beam was processed. A micropattern was clearly fabricated on transparent poly(methyl methacrylate) and polyethylene terephthalate using our polymer film. In poly(methyl methacrylate) substrate, the processed depth showed a maximum at the polymer film thickness of 15 μm under the condition of laser power of 23 mW. Finally, laser marking test on the transparent poly(methyl methacrylate) was demonstrated as an application of our system using the optimal polymer film thickness.