Microstructuring Glasses Using Lasers

The geometrical microstructuring using CO2 and Nd YAG lasers is a thermal process, in particular if holes are drilled into borosilicate and quartz glass using CO2 lasers [55],... 

Silicate glass was textured using a CO2 laser [330]. The texturing is used to fabricate computer discs of high specific information density made from glass substrates. Laser pulses create a nanotexture on a surface of a glass disc. The process is based on rapid thermal cycles to manipulate the transformation temperature and finally the microstructure of the glass in the zone affected by the heat. 

Consequently such a microvaporizer uses a glass-silicon-glass stack with a microstructured silicon evaporator. This evaporator is heated up by a pulsed NIR-laser diode. Thus, the liquids which are in contact with the evaporator within a very short period of time are heated beyond their evaporation temperature. This arrangement not only requires a low energy to evaporate in comparison to the commonly used resistive heating, but the very rapid heating of the silicon vaporizer also allows for simultaneous evaporation of sample mixtures with components of different evaporation temperatures and partial pressures, respectively. Furthermore,... 

Lasers are used to polish, cut, etch, inscribe, decorate and engrave glasses, and also to find applications in microstructuring of glasses. In the context of the book the application of lasers for microstructuring of glasses is of most interest and, therefore, the other processes will only be briefly discussed. 

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