Ferro Corporation

Nicholas M Karpa

George E Sakoske

Joseph E Sarver

Dennis R Gilmore

A compounded polymer material that can be laser marked is provided. The compounded polymer material includes an enhancer of nitrides, carbides, silicides, or combinations thereof. Upon forming the compounded polymer material into an article and exposing it to laser radiation, the irradiated portion of the compounded polymer material absorbs the laser radiation, increases in temperature, and forms a mark in the article. A lightness value difference (&#x394;L) between the mark and the non-irradiated portion of the article has an absolute value of at least 5, and the lightness value difference between the mark and the non-irradiated portion is greater than if the polymer material did not include the enhancer.

Carbide, nitride and silicide enhancers for laser absorption

A universal or all-purpose laser marking composition for forming satisfactorily dark laser marks on a wide variety of substrates is provided. The marking composition comprises an enhancer of nitrides, carbides, silicides, and combinations thereof. The enhancer may be selected one or more of ferromanganese, ferrosilicon, FeSiwhere X can range from about 0.005 to 0.995, FeSi, MgFeSi, SiC, CaSi, (Co)Mo, MoSi, TiSi, ZrSi, WSi, MnSi, YSi, CuSi, NiSi, FeC, FeCand FeC, MoC, MoC, MoC, YC, WC, AlC, MgC, MgC, CaC, LaC, TaC, FeN, FeN, FeN, FeN, FeN, MoN, MoN, WN, WN, WN, and combinations thereof and combinations thereof. Upon disposing the marking composition on a substrate and exposing the marking composition to laser radiation, the marking composition absorbs the laser radiation, increases in temperature, chemically bonds with the substrate, and when formed on each of a metal, glass, ceramic, stone, and plastic substrates, the mark has a negative &#x394;L dark contrast value of at least &#x2212;1 compared to a mark formed by the marking composition without the enhancer.

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Upper Saint Clair, PA, United States of America

Nicholas M Karpa