Carbide, nitride and silicide enhancers for laser absorption

A method of producing laser marks, comprising:

• providing a polymer material and an enhancer selected from the group consisting of FeMn, CaSi, Cu5Si, FeSi, Fe5Si2, MgFeSi, MnSi2, MoSi2, Ni2Si, TiSi2, ZrSi2, WSi2, YSi, Al4O3, CaC2, Fe3C, Fe7C3, Fe2C, LaC2, Mg2C, Mg2C3, Ta4C3, YC2, MoN, Mo2N, Si3N4, and combinations thereof;
• compounding the polymer material and the enhancer to produce a compounded polymer material including 2-20 wt % of the enhancer;
• forming the compounded polymer material into an article having a desired configuration;
• irradiating an irradiated portion of the article with laser radiation such that the irradiated portion absorbs the laser radiation, increases in temperature, and forms a mark in the article that has a luminance, color, and/or degree of opacity that contrasts with a non-irradiated portion of the article,
• wherein a lightness value difference (ΔL) between the mark and the non-irradiated portion 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.