Nanosecond Laser-Induced Shock Waves of Polymer Surfaces

Nanosecond pulsed lasers interacting with polymer surfaces generate ablation, plasma formation, and rapidly expanding vapor/plasma plumes that launch shock waves into the surrounding medium and substrate. These laser-induced shock waves (LISWs) produce high pressures and ultrahigh strain rates at the surface, enabling surface texturing, microstructuring, delamination, and dynamic mechanical modification of polymers. This paper reviews the physics of nanosecond laser–polymer interactions leading to shock formation, summarizes experimental diagnostics and characteristic pressure/time scales, and presents an experimentally-oriented methodology for investigating LISWs on polymer foils. Expected results, measurement strategies (optical shadowgraphy, beam-deflection, hydrophones, and fiber-optic probes), and a discussion of mechanisms (ablation pressure, plasma confinement, and material response) are presented. Applications and implications for laser shock processing, microfabrication, and polymer functionalization are discussed. Key gaps and recommendations for future experimental and modeling work are highlighted [1-3].