Rohil Manakad

A Novel Process To Create Arbitrary Microcellular Patterns In PC Using A Laser Beam

Abstract: A laser beam to nucleate cells in the solid-state foaming process was explored for the first time. The attempt was successful and opens a new way to create microcellular foamed regions in a plastic part with all the flexibility offered by a laser beam. This paper focuses on the experimental parameters needed to produce foamed patterns using a laser engraver, on polycarbonate samples saturated with carbon dioxide at 5 MPa pressure. The laser beam gives more control over the location where bubbles are nucleated. A parametric study was conducted to determine the process window at different speed and power settings at 5 MPa to reliably produce these foamed structures.

Biography: Rohil Manakad is currently pursuing his MS in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Washington. He has a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Manipal Institute of Technology. He is currently doing research at the Microcellular Plastics Lab at the University of Washington.