Nucleation and growth of surface microstructures on Nd+: YAG laser ablatedelastomer/carbon composite

Pulsed laser, such as the second harmonic emission of a Nd+:YAG laser at 53 2 nm, is used for surface modification of composite material consisting of elastomer and carbon black. Morphology and chemical compositions of the com posite were probed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoele ctron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. Microstructures such as conical, fl at conical and dome-like structures were produced on the ablated surface at a pulse energy of 23 mJ/pulse and pulse width of 10 ns. For each of these microstructures, the origin of the ablated process is particularly addresse d and a model describing their nucleation and growth process is proposed. ( C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.