Electronic and hybrid polymer systems place far stricter demands on laser marking than conventional plastics. Requirements such as electrical neutrality, material purity, dimensional stability, and long-term reliability significantly narrow the acceptable processing window. This article explains the unique challenges of laser marking in electronic and hybrid polymer systems, why many standard marking approaches fail, and what fundamental material behaviors must be considered to achieve reliable and compliant marking performance.

Low-power and high-speed laser marking is increasingly adopted to improve throughput, reduce thermal damage, and enable finer feature resolution. However, many conventional laser marking additives fail under these conditions. This article explains why standard additives designed for high-energy marking lose effectiveness at low laser power and high scanning speeds, and which fundamental material limitations drive these failures.

Antimony-based laser marking additives have long been used to enhance laser absorption and contrast in plastics. However, increasing regulatory pressure, purity requirements, and application-specific constraints are driving growing demand for antimony-free laser marking solutions. This article explains when antimony-free laser marking matters, why antimony-containing systems become limiting in modern polymer applications, and how alternative laser-responsive mechanisms enable compliant and stable marking performance without relying on antimony.

Background

Laser marking on plastics can be broadly divided into two categories: black laser marking and colored laser marking. While black marking remains the most widely adopted ...

Carbon black is widely used for laser marking due to its strong laser absorption. However, in modern polymer systems it often causes uncontrolled conductivity, poor edge definition, migration, and regulatory risks. This article explains the structural failure modes of carbon black in laser marking plastics and why controlled laser-responsive inorganic additives are increasingly preferred.

Laser marking additives—often referred to as “laser marking pigments”—frequently fail due to mismatches between material mechanism, substrate behavior, and laser conditions. This article benchmarks common failure modes in laser marking systems and explains why certain additives fail, how to diagnose the cause, and which functional alternatives perform better.

LaserMark additives (often searched as laser marking pigments) are laser-responsive functional additives designed to generate durable, high-readability contrast on plastics. This decision tree helps engineers and designers select the appropriate LaserMark grade based on substrate color, absorption behavior, marking mechanism, and application requirements.

LaserMark-E is a laser-responsive functional additive developed for laser marking in electronic and precision plastic components. It enables clean, stable, high-readability markings while minimizing contamination, outgassing, and interference with electrical performance.

LaserMark-E – Laser Marking Additive for Electronics and ESD-Sensitive Plastics

LaserMark-E is a laser marking additive optimized for electronic plastics and precision components. It delivers clear, durable laser markings with controlled contrast while preserving electrical, mechanical, and surface integrity required in electronic and ESD-sensitive applications.

LaserMark-P is a laser-responsive functional additive developed for stable, repeatable laser marking on industrial plastics. It is often categorized in industry searches as a “laser marking pigment”, but its primary function is controlled laser activation rather than decorative coloration.

LaserMark-P – Process-Stable Laser Marking Additive for Industrial Plastics

LaserMark-P is a laser marking additive designed for robust processing windows and consistent contrast generation on plastics. Unlike conventional pigments, it responds to laser energy through functional activation mechanisms, enabling reliable marking performance across varying molding and laser conditions.

LaserMark-G is a laser-responsive functional additive designed to generate neutral gray contrast markings on engineering plastics. It provides balanced readability across a wide range of polymer colors and absorption levels, offering a versatile laser marking solution without relying on pigment coloration or surface foaming.

LaserMark-G – Laser-Responsive Additive for Neutral Gray Marking on Engineering Plastics

LaserMark-G is a versatile laser marking additive that enables stable, neutral gray contrast markings on engineering plastics. It is designed for applications where neither dark-on-light nor light-on-dark marking is optimal, delivering consistent readability across mixed-color or medium-absorption substrates.

LaserMark-SF – Laser-Responsive Additive for Light Foamed Marking on Dark Engineering Plastics

LaserMark-SF is a laser-responsive functional additive that enables light, foamed contrast marking on dark or high-absorption engineering plastics. It generates clear, durable markings through controlled surface foaming rather than pigment burning, ensuring high readability without compromising polymer performance.

Technical FAQ

1. What is LaserMark-SF?

LaserMark-SF is a laser-responsive functional additive designed to generate light or foamed contrast markings on dark or high-absorption engineering plastics.

2. How does LaserMark-SF create contrast?

LaserMark-SF works through controlled surface foaming under laser irradiation, producing light-colored marks without relying on pigment burning or carbonization.

3. What types of plastics are suitable for LaserMark-SF?

LaserMark-SF is suitable for dark-colored or carbon-filled engineering plastics such as PP, ABS, PC, PA and related compounds.

4. Which laser systems are compatible?

LaserMark-SF performs effectively under common fiber (1064 nm) and green (532 nm) laser systems used in industrial marking.

5. Is LaserMark-SF a pigment or colorant?

No. LaserMark-SF is a functional laser-activation additive and does not act as a color pigment or filler.

6. Will LaserMark-SF affect mechanical or surface properties?

At optimized addition levels, LaserMark-SF maintains the mechanical integrity and surface quality of the base polymer.

7. How does LaserMark-SF differ from LaserMark-W?

LaserMark-SF is optimized for light or foamed markings on dark substrates, while LaserMark-W is designed for dark, high-contrast markings on light or low-absorption plastics.

8. Can LaserMark-SF be used together with other functional additives?

Yes. LaserMark-SF can be formulated alongside conductive additives, fillers or stabilizers when proper formulation balance is maintained.

LaserMark-W is a laser-responsive functional additive designed to enable high-contrast, permanent laser marking on engineering plastics. It is optimized for applications where background brightness or low laser absorption limits contrast formation. LaserMark-W functions as a laser-activation agent rather than a color pigment or filler, ensuring marking performance without compromising base polymer properties.

Laser marking performance depends on more than optical absorption. This article explains why some laser marking additives fail despite strong absorption at laser wavelengths. It highlights the importance of energy conversion efficiency, thermal response, and compatibility with polymer matrices in laser marking applications.