A novel anti-spatter and anti-crack laser drilling technique: application to ceramics

This work reports a novel anti-spatter and anti-crack ceramic laser drilling method based on the gelcasting technique. A Nd:YAG solid state laser was used to drill micro-holes directly on a gelcast green alumina body. The results reveal that the irregular spatter at the periphery of the hole inherent to traditional laser drilling methods can be effectively prevented by direct drilling of the gelcast green body. Much more regular hole shapes without microcracks were also successfully obtained.