LASER ETCHING OF AN ACRYLIC AND POLYVINYLCHLORIDE COMPOSITION, AND LASER ETCHED ARTICLE

A laser-markable acrylic and PVC composition (commonly known as Kydex®) is lased using a CO2 laser to differentiate a laser etched graphic or pattern from the base material. A discoloration may be controlled to improve an appearance of the graphic or pattern. An embodiment uses a 500 to 2,500 watt CO2 laser to provide a raster or vector graphic pattern on the Kydex® finished part. Yet another embodiment is to use a 500 to 2,500 watt CO2 laser to provide a seamless raster or vector graphic pattern on a large piece of Kydex® which can then be cut and divided into multiple finished parts. In this case, an embodiment would include providing the necessary software and process controls to insure that the seams between individual parts that make up a larger part are without lines of demarcation.