Technical Articles

Practical engineering articles on plastics laser marking and welding, surface treatment, adhesion bonding, coatings, inkjet printing and product security, newest first.

• Welding Clear to Clear: Laser Joining Without Carbon Black
  Joining two transparent polymers needs absorption somewhere. The absorber-free wavelengths, interlayers and dye systems that make visually clear welds possible.
• Laser Transmission Welding of Plastics: Contour, Quasi-Simultaneous, Radial and Mask
  Four beam-delivery strategies produce four weld behaviours. How contour, quasi-simultaneous, radial and mask welding differ and where each one belongs.
• Choosing a Resin Pair and Colourants for Laser Welding
  Weldability depends on melt compatibility and optical behaviour at the wavelength. How colourants, fillers and additives decide whether a joint is possible.
• Polycarbonate and Acrylic Hardcoats: Abrasion, Chemicals, Weathering
  How hardcoats protect polycarbonate and acrylic: siloxane, UV-cure and plasma chemistries, application, adhesion, testing, failure modes and qualification.
• Conductive, EMI-Shielding & Anti-Static Coatings for Plastic Housings
  How conductive, EMI-shielding and anti-static coatings work on plastic housings: coating options, adhesion and pretreatment, testing and specification advice.
• Coating Defects on Moulded Plastic Parts: Craters, Fisheyes and More
  A defect-by-defect guide to craters, fisheyes, orange peel, blush, pinholes and stress cracking on coated moulded plastics: root causes and how to confirm them.
• Proving a Marking or Adhesion Specification Was — or Was Not — Met
  Most supplier disputes over marks and bonds are really disputes about an unmeasurable spec. What makes a requirement provable, and how to test an existing one.
• Cpk and Gage R&R for Mark Contrast and Adhesion Measurement
  Capability numbers mean nothing if the measurement system consumes the tolerance. Measurement system analysis for contrast, adhesion and surface energy.
• Writing a Marking, Coating or Adhesion Specification a Supplier Can Be Held To
  Specifications fail when they state an outcome without a method. What to include so that both parties can reach the same verdict on the same parts.
• When a Process Change Needs Revalidation — and When It Does Not
  Treating every change as major stops improvement; treating none as major invites failure. A graded framework for deciding what a change actually requires.
• Liquid, Powder or UV-Cure: Selecting a Coating Process for Plastics
  Three coating processes with different temperature limits, cure mechanisms and geometry constraints. Matching the process to the substrate and the requirement.
• When to Bring In an Outside Process Engineer — and What an Hour Can Settle
  Outside engineering is usually called too late, after months of internal iteration. The signals that it is worth calling, and how to scope a short engagement.
• ISO 13485 and the Paperwork Behind a Qualified Marking Process
  A marking process in a device quality system needs design controls, validation, traceability and change control. What each one asks for in practical terms.
• IQ, OQ and PQ for a Laser Marking Process: What Auditors Actually Ask For
  Validating a marking process means proving the window, not the setting. How installation, operational and performance qualification apply to laser marking.
• The Digital Product Passport for Plastics Manufacturers: What the Data Carrier Requirement Means
  The DPP requires a durable, machine-readable carrier attached to the product and readable across its life. That is a marking requirement, written into law.
• Why Paint and Ink Delaminate From Moulded Plastic Parts
  A decision tree for coating and ink delamination on moulded plastics: find the failure interface first, then surface energy, contamination or cure.
• Do You Need a Laser Safety Officer? Class 1 Enclosures and Class 4 Beams
  Whether a marking cell needs a Laser Safety Officer depends on its installed classification, not the laser inside it. How that classification is decided.
• Can You Laser Cut Nylon? What Works, What Melts, and How It Differs From Marking
  Nylon laser cuts with CO2 lasers but melts rather than vaporises. Which lasers work, how thickness and glass fill affect the edge, fume safety, and cutting vs marking.
• How Long Does Plasma Surface Treatment Last? Shelf Life of Treated Plastics
  Plasma treatment on plastics decays within hours to weeks. Why hydrophobic recovery happens, typical windows by polymer, how to check, and how to extend it.
• Laser Welding vs. Ultrasonic and Vibration Welding: When to Use Which
  Compare laser, ultrasonic and vibration welding of plastics on heat generation, particulate, joint access, cycle time and part sensitivity.
• Plastics Decorating Methods Compared: Pad Printing, Screen, Hot Stamping, IMD, and Laser
  Pad printing, screen printing, hot stamping, in-mould decorating and laser marking compared on cost, durability, geometry and production volume.
• Laser Marking PPA and High-Temperature Polyamides for E-Mobility and Under-Hood Parts
  How PPA and high-temperature polyamides mark, why glass loading and moisture change results, and what matters for under-hood and EV component traceability.
• Laser Marking Polyimide Films: Kapton, Flexible Circuits and High-Temperature Electronics
  How polyimide films respond to laser marking, why UV sources dominate flexible circuit work, and what to control when marking very thin high-temperature films.
• Laser Marking Polystyrene and HIPS: Packaging, Appliances and Disposables
  How polystyrene and HIPS respond to laser marking, why the process window is narrow, and what to control on thin-walled packaging and disposable parts.
• Laser Marking PC-ABS and ASA: Blends in Automotive and Appliance Parts
  How PC-ABS and ASA blends behave under a laser, why blend ratio changes the result, and what to control when marking automotive and appliance components.
• Laser Marking on Textured and Matte Moulded Surfaces
  Why textured mouldings read lower in contrast than gloss, how tool finish changes laser mark appearance, and how to specify marks on grained surfaces.
• Laser Cutting Plastics: How It Differs from Engraving and When Each One Wins
  How laser cutting plastics differs from engraving, which polymers cut cleanly, edge quality control, and the materials that must never be laser processed.
• How Colourants and Pigments Change Laser Marking Results
  Why the colourant often decides laser marking success, how titanium dioxide and carbon black behave, and why every colour needs its own recipe.
• Laser Marking Glass- and Mineral-Filled Plastics: What Changes When Filler Is Added
  How glass and mineral fillers change laser marking on engineering resins, why filler often helps contrast, and how to control fibre emergence.
• Colour Laser Marking on Plastics: How Contrast and Colour Are Achieved with Additives
  How dark, light and true colour laser marks are produced on plastics through additive chemistry, and the process variables that control the result.
• Laser Marking of Polycarbonate: Techniques, Parameters, and Industry Applications
  Polycarbonate marks well thanks to its aromatic backbone. Learn the laser types, additives, parameters and stress-crazing risks for reliable PC marking.
• Laser Marking of PVC: Applications, Parameters, and Safety Considerations
  PVC laser marking covers wire and cable, medical and construction uses, but HCl fume generation makes extraction and material control non-negotiable.
• Laser Marking of PTFE (Teflon): Challenges, Techniques, and Applications
  PTFE resists laser marking because of its strong C-F bonds and poor absorption. Learn which wavelengths, additives and techniques produce durable marks.
• How to Choose the Right Laser Marker for Your Application
  A step-by-step framework for specifying a laser marking system: substrate, mark requirements, throughput, scanner type, integration and safety class.
• QR Codes and Data Matrix Codes via Laser: Traceability and Serialisation Use Cases
  How laser-marked Data Matrix and QR codes deliver part-level traceability and serialisation, plus the parameters that determine code grade and readability.
• Laser Marking vs. Inkjet Printing: A Head-to-Head Comparison
  Compare laser marking and inkjet printing on plastics: permanence, running cost, consumables, maintenance, substrate range and regulatory impact.
• Laser Marking vs. Laser Engraving vs. Laser Etching: What’s the Difference?
  Laser marking, engraving and etching are three different processes. Compare depth, mechanism, speed and durability to choose correctly for plastics.
• Laser Marking Masterbatch: Complete Technical Guide
  Technical guide to laser marking masterbatch: additive chemistry, contrast mechanisms, laser selection and process tips for plastics production.
• Decoding Laser Marking on Plastics: A Guide to Common Laser Types
  Compare CO2, fibre and UV lasers for plastic marking on wavelength, mark depth, resolution, thermal impact and cost, then pick the right system.
• Laser Marking ABS Plastics: Parameters, Additives, and Best Practices
  How to laser mark ABS plastics: marking mechanisms, fibre, MOPA and UV laser selection, parameter ranges, additives and production best practices.
• Process Parameters Affecting Mark Quality in Plastic Laser Marking
  Power, pulse duration, speed, frequency, focus and material properties all shape plastic mark quality. Optimisation strategies and troubleshooting table.
• Laser Marking & Welding Additives for Plastics: How New Technologies Are Raising the Bar
  Dual-purpose laser additives now drive both marking and welding of plastics. How the technology works, where it pays off, and what to specify.
• Scott Sabreen Presents at Industrial Print Magazine Webinar
  Scott Sabreen joined the Plastic Possibilities: Direct Printing webinar hosted by Industrial Print Magazine to discuss ink adhesion on plastic substrates.
• Laser Marking Clear & Transparent Plastics
  Mark polycarbonate, acrylic and PETG without losing clarity. Subsurface marking, UV and CO2 approaches, clear additives and parameter guidance.
• UV vs. Fibre Laser Marking: Which Technology to Choose
  UV vs fibre laser marking for plastics compared: cold marking, throughput, resolution, cost and which technology fits your material and application.
• Laser Marking High-Temperature Plastics
  Laser marking PEEK, PPS, LCP and PEI: why high-temperature polymers resist marking, which lasers work, and how additives deliver high-contrast results.
• Sustainable Laser Marking: Replacing Labels & Ink Printing
  Cut consumables, VOCs and waste by replacing labels and ink printing with laser marking. Environmental benefits, ROI factors and metrics to track.
• Glass Fibre Emergence: Solving Laser Marking Problems in Plastics
  Why glass fibres at moulded part surfaces ruin laser marks, and how moulding changes, material selection, additives and parameters solve the problem.
• Anti-Counterfeiting & Brand Protection with Laser Marking
  Use laser marking for brand protection: serialisation, micro-marking, covert features and track-and-trace systems that expose counterfeit supply chains.
• Additives and Laser-Sensitive Masterbatches: Revolutionising Plastics Processing
  How laser-sensitive masterbatches work, where they are used, the benefits over ink and engraving, and the dispersion challenges to plan for.
• Troubleshooting Common Laser Engraving Problems on Plastics: A Comprehensive Guide
  Fix burning, melting, shallow engraving and uneven marks on plastic. Causes, settings by material, prevention steps and maintenance checks.
• Laser Marking in Automotive: Precision and Permanence Under the Hood and Beyond
  How automotive manufacturers use laser marking for traceability on interior trim and under-hood parts: durability, techniques and future trends.
• Fibre vs. UV vs. CO₂ Lasers for Plastic Marking: A Comprehensive Guide
  Compare fibre, UV and CO2 lasers for plastic marking on capability, speed and total cost of ownership, with a side-by-side selection table.
• Top 7 Benefits of Laser Marking Plastics: A Comprehensive Guide
  Precision, permanence, speed, material versatility, quality, lower cost and traceability: the seven benefits that make laser marking the standard.
• SNOWLEOPARD® Anti Counterfeiting Solution: The Best of Overt and Covert Security Features
  SNOWLEOPARD combines covert security with instant verification: invisible submicron codes revealed by a single breath, with no tools, apps or lights.
• Overt versus Covert Anti-Counterfeiting: A Brand’s Guide to Choosing the Right Defence
  Compare overt and covert anti-counterfeiting features: pros, cons, and where layered strategies still leave consumers unable to verify a product.
• How Anti-Counterfeiting Safeguards Society and Strengthens Economies
  Counterfeiting is a public safety and economic threat, not just a brand problem. How authentication protects health, innovation and legitimate trade.
• Why Legacy Anti-Counterfeiting Methods Fail in the Modern Market
  Holograms, QR codes and covert inks no longer stop sophisticated counterfeiters. Where each legacy method fails and what modern protection requires.
• Laser Marking of Polypropylene and Polyethylene Plastics Using Fibre Lasers
  Marking polyolefins with fibre lasers: why PP and PE resist marking, which additives fix contrast, and how inline on-the-fly marking works.
• Laser Marking PPS Polyphenylene Sulfide Using Fibre Lasers
  High-contrast, scratch-resistant marking on black glass-filled PPS: MOPA pulse settings, colourant technology and the moulding conditions required.
• New Anti-Counterfeiting Authentication Technology in Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics Packaging
  SNOWLEOPARD brings breath-verified covert authentication to pharmaceutical and cosmetics packaging, with no inks, labels, lasers or reader instruments.
• Adhesion Bonding, Contact Angle, and Surface Properties of Polyamide Nylon
  Why nylon is hydrophobic at the surface but hydrophilic in bulk, how moisture causes bonding failures, and what that means for adhesion to polyamide.
• How to Laser Mark and Engrave Nylon (Polyamide) Plastics with Fibre Lasers
  Fibre laser marking on nylon: why polyamide resists marking, which additives create white-on-black contrast, and the MOPA settings that work.
• Fortifying Your Fortress: The Direct Business Benefits of Proactive Brand Protection
  Brand protection is a growth driver, not a cost line: revenue preservation, pricing power, customer trust, risk mitigation and supply chain intelligence.

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