Femtosecond laser parameter effects on anisotropic thermal conduction in CFRP for medical applications

Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) is an ideal material for manufacturing critical components such as orthopedic surgical instruments, robotic end-effectors for surgery, and personalized surgical navigation tools, owing to its exceptional specific strength, stiffness, and fatigue resistance. Conventional machining methods are prone to microcracks and interfacial delamination, making it difficult to meet stringent medical standards. Femtosecond laser technology, with its superior "cold machining" characteristics, serves as a core technique for processing CFRP. However, the significant anisotropic thermal conductivity of carbon fibers in CFRP limits the precision of femtosecond laser machining. Therefore, this study primarily focuses on the influence of femtosecond laser parameters on axial and radial thermal conduction in CFRP. The research findings reveal that high scanning speeds can effectively mitigate thermal conduction differences caused by carbon fiber anisotropy, providing theoretical guidance for the application of femtosecond laser machining in high-end medical fields.