These disks manufactured from stainless steel can be seen in the bathrooms at Terminal 5 Heathrow. As you can see, the laser marking process replicates the various images instructing you what to do. We used Thermark for laser marking the images because, the customer wanted a highly defined black mark which replicated the mechanical engraved versions that were previously used and in filled with black ink.
Cermark and Thermark are classified as a laser receptive material, used to enhance the laser marking process, originally designed to better match laser and material processing. For example, CO2 laser marking facilities could use it to provide the capability to mark metals, which are traditionally the materials for Nd:YAG lasers, while Nd:YAG lasers could mark glass, traditionally the job of CO2 lasers. Now it is more widely used to enhance definition in terms of blackness.
The process requires you to spray the material to the substrate, when dry laser marking the image, then wash off. Where the laser has interacted with the material the image is permanent, where it has not, then the sprayed material washes off. There are now different versions for each of the lasers and materials.
If you would like further information on this laser marking application, or any other application, please request a call back, or talk to one of our laser marking specialists on 01737 826902.