POLYMER COMPOSITES, 2024 (SCI-Expanded)
This work investigates the effects of laser processing parameters on basalt fiber-reinforced composites for the optimization of surface processing without fiber damage. Various conditions of laser power, speed, and stand-off distance were applied using a CO2 laser. Consequently, a well-processed morphology with full matrix removal and clear fiber exposure was achieved under optimized conditions of 32 W power, 200 mm/s speed, and 5 mm SOD. Those parameters resulted in a surface roughness Sa of 6.11 mu m. Using the optimum parameters obtained from the experiments, the surface energy density was computed as 0.89 J/mm2, while ensuring adequate material removal without damage to the fiber. Lower power input of 20 W resulted in incomplete removal of the matrix; on the other extreme, unreasonably high powers resulted in fiber degradation. The experiments determined that optimum laser parameters indeed play a critical role in the processing of basalt fiber composites surfaces.Highlights Ideal laser settings: 32 W, 200 mm/s, 5 mm SOD. Full-matrix removal and fiber exposition realized without any damage. The achieved surface roughness Sa is 6.11 mu m for optimized laser parameters. Excessive laser power leads to a fiber damage.