Destruction of polymers under the action of laser radiation

Laser ablation is one of the main mechanisms of polymers destruction under the action of laser radiation. In this paper, the basic information on laser ablation of polymers is presented. Under the action of laser radiation on the polymer, processes of thermal, thermo-oxidative, and mechanical degradation occur simultaneously, resulting in the evaporation of macromolecules fragments (up to oligomers), and in some cases, separation of polymer particles and filler by a gas or plasma jet is observed. In addition, a substance ablation is accompanied by a large number of concomitant effects: vapor condensation and liquid phase dispersion.