Struggling with Micro-Nano Machining of High-Melting-Point Molybdenum? Femtosecond Lasers Break Through 4 Core Challenges

As a "high-temperature resistant material star" with a melting point of 2623°C, molybdenum (Mo) is widely used in high-end fields such as aerospace nozzles, semiconductor electrodes, and medical CT components. However, molybdenum micro-nano processing has long been trapped by process bottlenecks caused by high hardness and high melting point—traditional mechanical processing is prone to cracking, and nanosecond lasers cause thermal damage. How to achieve "high precision + no damage" processing? Femtosecond laser "cold processing" technology provides a new answer.  

4 Core Challenges in Molybdenum Micro-Nano Processing

• Rapid Tool Wear Due to High Hardness: In traditional contact processing, the high hardness of molybdenum increases tool wear speed by 3-5 times, and it is easy to cause microcracks on the material surface, making it impossible to process fine structures (such as micro-scale apertures).  

• "Incomplete Processing" Caused by High Melting Point: Ordinary laser processing requires a large amount of energy to melt molybdenum; insufficient energy leads to "incomplete cutting", while excessive energy causes edge adhesion, affecting precision.  

• Thermal Damage Impairs Material Performance: Nanosecond lasers have a long pulse duration, and heat diffusion forms a 10μm-wide heat-affected zone (HAZ), leading to molybdenum surface oxidation (forming MoO₃), internal stress cracks, and even reduced conductivity.  

• Poor Adaptability of Traditional Processes: Both mechanical processing and nanosecond lasers struggle to balance "narrow linewidth + no dross", failing to meet the precision requirements of semiconductor, medical, and other fields.  

2.2 Femtosecond Laser: A "Cold Processing Tool" to Solve Molybdenum Processing Challenges

• No Thermal Damage: Eliminate Oxidation and Cracking from the Root: The pulse duration of femtosecond lasers is as short as the femtosecond level (10⁻¹⁵ seconds). Energy acts on the material surface instantaneously, directly sublimating molybdenum. The heat-affected zone is less than 1μm, barely changing the matrix performance.  

• High Precision: Strong Controllability for Micro-Scale Processing: It can realize molybdenum precision drilling with a tolerance of ±1μm, with smooth hole walls and no burrs, meeting the needs of high-precision components such as SEM electron microscope apertures and optical pinholes.  

Tolerance-free processing of molybdenum sheets, with extremely high aperture roundness and no burrs or melting marks on edges  

• Non-Contact: Avoid Mechanical Stress Damage: Non-contact processing requires no tool contact, no mechanical stress is generated, and the problem of "processing cracking" of high-hardness molybdenum is solved.  

Precision cutting of molybdenum sheets by femtosecond laser  

2.3 Performance Comparison: Femtosecond Laser vs. Nanosecond Laser

Conclusion

For molybdenum micro-nano processing needs that pursue "high precision and no damage", femtosecond laser is the "core solution" to break through the limitations of traditional processes. In the next article, Mono Tech will further explain how femtosecond laser realizes customized molybdenum processing in aerospace, medical, and other fields.