Spectral Analysis of Laser Processing of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics

Spectra of the optical process emissions of carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) processing with a continuous wave (cw) thin disk laser are recorded for a basic characterization of the ablation process. The observed line spectra show a characteristic spectral line at a wavelength of 588.95 nm that is found to be atomic sodium (Na I). No spectral lines of atomic or ionized carbon appear in the recorded spectra leading to the conclusion that only a small fraction of C-atoms is ionized.