Update On CO2 Laser Ablation Of Polyoxymethylene At 101 kPa.

Recent work has brought about a renewed interest in CO₂ laser ablation studies of polyoxymethylene, due to its potential as a test target for enhancing modern understanding of the laser ablation process. In this paper, new results taken in air at atmosphere pressure are reported, including data measured at institutions in Germany and Japan, which increase the body of literature data on CO₂ laser ablation of polyoxymethylene. The results are discussed in terms of aerospace parameters such as the momentum coupling coefficient and specific impulse, and are compared to a previous literature study. The threshold fluence is specified for ablation of polyoxymethylene by CO₂ laser radiation. Fluences higher (and lower) than previously tested for CO₂ laser ablation were studied herein, and record specific impulse values for CO₂ laser ablation of flat polyoxymethylene are also reported here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]