Development of a colored graving and marking system of femtoseconds Ti:sapphire laser through the formation of nanostructures (ripples) on the surface of various materials

• Grant number: 15/15990-1
• Support type: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Duration: April 01, 2016 - February 28, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal researcher: Fatima Maria Mitsue Yasuoka
• Grantee: Fatima Maria Mitsue Yasuoka
• Company: BR Labs Tecnologia Óptica e Fotônica Ltda
• City: São Carlos
• Principal researchers: Marco Antonio Alves de Souza
• Assoc. researchers: Alessandro Fraga Farah ; Filippo Ghiglieno ; Jarbas Caiado de Castro Neto ; José Matheus Sanches ; Luciana de Matos ; Lucimara Cristina Nakata Scaduto ; Luis Gustavo Sabino

Abstract

This project proposes the development of a colored engraving and marking laser system on different materials using Ti: Sapphire laser femtoseconds, in order to produce oriented nanostructures (ripples) on the surface of these materials. The principal objective is the generation of specific standards of color for viewing on material surfaces. Nanostructures of precision on surfaces and changes in material properties are important innovative results, using radiation of ultrafast lasers. Material characteristics can be designed in microscopic to nanoscopic scale, producing new optical properties. The possibility of reaching modifications in materials, using ultrashort pulses by generation of dependent polarization structures, can generate the specific color patterns. These oriented nanostructures created on the metal surface, called ripples, is typically smaller than the wavelength of the laser and is in the visible spectrum. Thus, a complex process of coloring material, involving printing, reading and calibration has been performed to associate the colors defined a priori. This new method based on the orientation control of laser-induced nanostructure, to accumulate large amount of information in a minimum area by proposing new applications for laser marking and new types of color identification codes. The manufacturing technology of Ti:Sapphire CW laser is already completely dominated by the company BR Labs Indústria e Comércio, this work aims to optimize Ti: Sapphire laser fentoseconds, in order to perform experimental apparatus for use in colored engraving and marking system through the oriented nanostructures. The intended innovation in this work is the development of these nanostructures optimized for generation of three-color standard of RGB system, being three fixed nanostructures standards, sharing in proportions a small pre-defined area element, whose behavior can be visualized and characterized as the a "pixel". An algorithm to direct transcription of images previously scanned into the code of colors will be developed. Obtaining the composite color can be obtained by the ratio of the area of each component or by the variation in the morphology of the nanostructures. (AU)