Laser engraving of copper and brass

Laser engraving of copper

Copper is the pliable golden-pink metal which, when exposed to air, quickly covers with an oxide layer, giving it a characteristic high-grade yellowish-red gradation. Thin layers of copper are green-blue. Copper is one of the four metals that has a distinct coloring that differs from the gray or silver coloring of other metals.

Copper is a component of various alloys: brass with zinc, bronze with tin, nickel silver with nickel, etc. Copper is diamagnetic (non-magnetic), hygienic, highly electro- and thermally conductive .

Thanks to these properties, copper is used in electrical engineering for the production of power cables, wires, etc., as well as in various heating batteries, heat exchangers, heat sinks, etc. Alloying of copper with gold is used in jewelery making.

Laser marking of copper is used in the marking of copper components in the sanitary area, in battery production for the laser-engraved nameplates made of copper foil, etc

Laser engraving of brass

Brass is an alloy of copper mainly with zinc, other metals can also be contained in small amounts. The color of brass depends on the zinc content: the more zinc the alloy contains, the lighter it is - from brownish to white-yellow. Thanks to the proportion of other metals, brass is harder than pure copper.

Brass is non-magnetic and non-sparking , so it is used for special tools. Brass is not hardenable by heat treatment (unlike steel and aluminum alloys).

When laser engraving brass, black engraving or white engraving is usually used. Black engraving involves strong laser engraving at very high intensities. An oxidation process takes place, so that the engraving appears dark grey. This type of engraving is popular, for example, in the production of engraved brass doorplates. With white engraving, on the other hand, a subtle inscription with a light contrast is left on the brass surface.