Most “LDS materials” claims are vague because real performance depends on the full system: resin, dispersion, laser settings, surface conditioning, and the electroless copper bath. In non-Pd LDS approaches, BCHP (Basic Copper Hydroxy Phosphate) is best understood as a laser-responsive copper source and activation booster—not a magic catalyst. This article explains where BCHP fits, what it can realistically improve, and which evaluation data proves its value without over-claiming.

Laser Direct Structuring (LDS) relies on a laser to “activate” specific zones on a polymer so they can be metallized (typically via electroless copper). BCHP (Basic Copper Hydroxy Phosphate) is a copper-containing, laser-responsive inorganic additive that can act as an **LDS activation booster**: it helps convert laser energy into localized chemical/structural changes that improve plating initiation, line definition, and process stability—especially when conventional LDS additives underperform or introduce cost, supply-chain, or compliance constraints.

“Antimony-free” is often treated as a compliance checkbox. In laser welding and adhesive-assisted systems, it is also a process constraint: removing antimony-containing pathways can change energy coupling, thermal confinement, and drift tolerance. This article explains the engineering reasons antimony-free designs often narrow the process window—and how to manage the trade-offs without turning compliance into yield loss.

Thermal runaway is one of the most misunderstood failure modes in laser welding adhesives. It often appears suddenly: a process that seems stable at low power collapses into overheating, deformation, or charring with only minor parameter changes. This article explains the physical mechanisms behind thermal runaway, why adhesive-assisted systems are particularly susceptible, and how engineers can recognize and prevent it.

“Absorption is high” is often mistaken as proof that low-power laser welding will succeed. In real production, many joints still fail because absorption does not guarantee interface activation, stable heat confinement, or tolerance to drift. This article explains why low-power laser welding can fail even when the system absorbs laser energy well, and provides a decision framework to diagnose and prevent these failures.

Carbon black is often treated as the default “laser absorber” for polymer laser welding. In practice, it frequently creates new problems: unstable process windows, cosmetic defects, contamination risk, and incompatibility with compliance-sensitive applications. This article explains the failure mechanisms behind carbon black in laser welding and provides engineering selection logic for when it should not be used.

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.

PB28 Cobalt Blue is a high-performance inorganic blue pigment known for its thermal and chemical stability. However, no pigment is universally suitable for all applications. This article explains when PB28 may not be the optimal choice and highlights key limitations, trade-offs, and alternative considerations for pigment selection.

PB28 Cobalt Blue can be manufactured via different synthesis routes, primarily solid-state and liquid-phase processes. These process choices significantly influence particle size distribution, agglomeration behavior, color consistency, and dispersion performance in plastics, coatings, and ceramic ink applications. This article compares the two routes and explains their implications for high-end and fine-dispersion systems.

High BET does not guarantee good battery performanceSpecific surface area (BET) is often used as a proxy for conductivity performance.  However, in lead-acid batteries, conductive additives with ...

Why processing form matters for CNT additivesCNT performance is not determined only by nanotube quality, but also by how the material is introduced into the process.  SWCNT powders and SWCNT slur...

What is percolation threshold in conductive additives?

Percolation threshold is the minimum loading at which a conductive additive forms a continuous electronic network in a composite or electrode. Below this threshold, conductivity increases slowly; above it, conductivity rises sharply. For battery electrodes, a lower percolation threshold means higher energy density and lower inactive material content.

CNT vs carbon black: fundamental difference

Carbon black: contact-based conduction

Carbon black relies on particle-to-particle contact to form conductive paths. Its low aspect ratio means a large amount is required to bridge gaps between active materials, leading to higher percolation thresholds and increased inactive mass.

CNT: network-based conduction

Carbon nanotubes form long-range conductive networks due to their high aspect ratio. A small amount of CNT can span large distances within the electrode, dramatically reducing the percolation threshold compared with carbon black.