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View Full Version : Interesting engineered wood with zinc borate -- Can it be lasercut?



Aras Balali
07-07-2016, 2:41 PM
I have a source for this material but before doing any testing I wanted to ask for your knowledge here. It’s an engineered wood product with what looks like a zinc borate treatment. More info can be found at http://www.lpsmartside.com/products/panel/ &http://lpcorp.com/media/2863/lpsmartsidecatalog.pdf.

According to wikipedia
Zinc borate is primarily used as a flame retardant in plastics and cellulose fibers etc. Its toxicity is low. Its melting point is 980 °C.
That makes me think it will likely not laser well.

Zinc borate is likely one of several chemicals used in the treatment of that product, but that seems to be a primary one. Do you know if this material can be etched or cut with laser cutter? Do you know of any potential dangers it might impose?

David Somers
07-07-2016, 2:47 PM
Aras,

I just did a google search on "zinc borate msds" and didnt see anything in the several MSDS sheets I looked at suggesting it was a hazardous material to laser.

For what that is worth.