Abstract: A compounded polymer material that can be laser marked is provided. The compounded polymer material includes an enhancer of nitrides, carbides, silicides, or combinations thereof. Upon forming the compounded polymer material into an article and exposing it to laser radiation, the irradiated portion of the compounded polymer material absorbs the laser radiation, increases in temperature, and forms a mark in the article. A lightness value difference (?L) between the mark and the non-irradiated portion of the article has an absolute value of at least 5, and the lightness value difference between the mark and the non-irradiated portion is greater than if the polymer material did not include the enhancer.

Abstract: A universal or all-purpose laser marking composition for forming satisfactorily dark laser marks on a wide variety of substrates is provided. The marking composition comprises an enhancer of nitrides, carbides, silicides, and combinations thereof. The enhancer may be selected one or more of ferromanganese, ferrosilicon, FexSi(1-x) where X can range from about 0.005 to 0.995, Fe5Si2, MgFeSi, SiC, CaSi, (Co)Mo, MoSi2, TiSi2, ZrSi2, WSi2, MnSi2, YSi, Cu5Si, Ni2Si, Fe3C, Fe7C3 and Fe2C, MoC, Mo2C, Mo3C2, YC2, WC, Al4C3, Mg2C, Mg2C3, CaC2, LaC2, Ta4C3, Fe2N, Fe3N, Fe4N, Fe7N3, Fe16N2, MoN, Mo2N, W2N, WN, WN2, and combinations thereof and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A universal or all-purpose laser marking composition for forming satisfactorily dark laser marks on a wide variety of substrates is provided. The marking composition comprises an enhancer of nitrides, carbides, silicides, and combinations thereof. The enhancer may be selected one or more of ferromanganese, ferrosilicon, FexSi(1-x) where X can range from about 0.005 to 0.995, Fe5Si2, MgFeSi, SiC, CaSi, (Co)Mo, MoSi2, TiSi2, ZrSi2, WSi2, MnSi2, YSi, Cu5Si, Ni2Si, Fe3C, Fe7C3 and Fe2C, MoC, Mo2C, Mo3C2, YC2, WC, Al4C3, Mg2C, Mg2C3, CaC2, LaC2, Ta4C3, Fe2N, Fe3N, Fe4N, Fe7N3, Fe16N2, MoN, Mo2N, W2N, WN, WN2, and combinations thereof and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A compounded polymer material that can be laser marked is provided. The compounded polymer material includes an enhancer of nitrides, carbides, silicides, or combinations thereof. Upon forming the compounded polymer material into an article and exposing it to laser radiation, the irradiated portion of the compounded polymer material absorbs the laser radiation, increases in temperature, and forms a mark in the article. A lightness value difference (?L) between the mark and the non-irradiated portion of the article has an absolute value of at least 5, and the lightness value difference between the mark and the non-irradiated portion is greater than if the polymer material did not include the enhancer.