Spectroscopic characteristics of the plume generated during laser ablation of a ceramic±polymer composite

The characteristics of Nd:YAG ablation of a 1:1 SiC±polysiloxane mixture and the polysiloxane material have been investigated, using time integrated spectroscopy and optical microscopic analysis. Spectroscopic results show a signi®cant contribution of the plasma emissions can be attributed to the ceramic component of the mixture, while the polymer itself produces a thermal-like background emission spectrum, with only a single carbon emission line. It is possible to conclude that the ablation of the ceramic is the dominant parameter for the removal of the SiC±polysiloxane mixture, suggesting that the polymer only acts as a bonding material and is dissociated almost instantly. An interpretation of the ablation rates and the measured optical parameters is attempted. # 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.