Lasers In Glass Surface Processing

Lasers are suitable tools for cutting, polishing, enamelling or structuring glass. Due to the short wavelength of excimer laser, microstructuring of glass and ceramic surfaces is possible. Examples are presented such as the marking of glasses or microline structuring of float glass surfaces. In comparison to flame and furnace processing, the CO2 laser is far superior, because it allows very precise treatment of the glass. Laser radiation induces a very fast heating of glass with a small surface layer, other regions of the glass body are not influenced. Due to this controlled heating, thermal cutting of hollow and flat glasses, polishing and enamelling of glass surfaces are possible.