Introduction

AOK Technologies TCK6 is part of a line of specially developed polyimide films for use as thermally conductive insulators in electronic devices. TCK6 consists of a 20μm thick polyimide film in between two silicone rubber liners. TCK6 is a very durable polymer which offers high thermal conductivity and high dielectric strength, making it ideal for insulator applications. TCK6 is used in various electronics industries, such as medical, communication, lighting, and other industrial applications. TCK films are available in various opaque grades. A diagram depicting TCK6 is shown in Figure 1.AOK Technologies TCK6 is suitable for laser cutting and marking processes. Other laser processes, such as engraving, are not suggested as they are not conducive to the intended uses of TCK6. The non-contact nature of laser processing allows applications to be processed with small features and fine geometry which might be difficult to achieve with traditional mechanical methods. Universal Laser Systems (ULS) makes it possible to consistently and repeatedly process this material to a high degree of dimensional accuracy, with virtually no material deformation during processing.

Laser Processing Notes

AOK Technologies TCK6 was tested to assess laser processing compatibility and determine the best system configuration of both laser peak power and wavelength. In testing of this material there was found to be no significant difference in edge quality with either the 9.3μm and 10.6μm wavelengths. Laser cutting of TCK6 results in a small amount of debris along the edge, requiring some post-process cleaning by wiping the edge with a solvent such as isopropyl alcohol. A comparison of the material processed showed that the 10.6µm laser produced slightly more surface debris than that of the 9.3µm laser. A microscopy image taken at 300x magnification of the laser processed edge of TCK6 is shown in Figure 2. The 3D image in Figure 3 depicts how the film and liners respond to laser cutting with the recommended system configuration of a 50 watt 9.3μm CO₂ laser source. The 9.3µm was chosen as the optimal configuration due to the reduced amount of debris produced while laser cutting, subsequent reduction in post-process cleaning, and a slight decrease in processing time when compared to the 10.6µm laser sources.

Additionally, AOK Technologies TCK6 silicone rubber liner readily absorbs a 1.06μm laser wavelength, creating a high contrast permanent mark on the surface of the material. This surface modification does not produce debris and therefore does not require post-processing. The 50W 9.3µm fiber laser is the recommended configuration for laser marking of this material.Processing Example

AOK Technologies TCK6 applications requiring fine geometry and intricate detail without degrading the physical properties of the material can be accomplished with technology from ULS. An example demonstrating the results of laser cutting and marking AOK Technologies TCK6 is illustrated in Figure 4.Conclusion

AOK Technologies TCK6 is suitable for laser processing and was extensively tested to determine the optimal processing configuration. Through this testing, it was determined that laser cutting and marking are viable processes. The AOK Technologies TCK6 absorbs the 9.3μm wavelength laser energy efficiently to produce a smooth edge that has a minimal heat-affected zone and discoloration. The 50W 9.3μm CO₂ laser source is the best configuration for cutting this material. Additionally, acceptable results can be achieved by processing this material with a 10.6μm laser source. A single 50W 1.06μm wavelength fiber laser source is the best system configuration for marking the surface of the silicone rubber liner. The silicone rubber liner absorbs the 1.06μm fiber laser energy to produce a high contrast mark on the surface of the material.