Paint Cleaning

Potential applications

Coatings such as paint, varnish, coatings, rust and even traffic film can be cleaned with ease through laser paint removal and cleaning applications. This is beneficial for the electronics, aerospace and solar energy industries amongst others.

The problems with traditional methods

The conventional methods for paint removal involve the use of chemical solvents or abrasive media blasting. These methods can be time-consuming, very harsh on the substrate and involve additional costs such as purchasing the blast media and safe disposal of the solvents after use.

Advantages of using an SPI fiber laser

SPI’s G4 70W HS-H laser requires no additional consumables and is virtually maintenance free meaning that operational costs are lower than the alternative. It produces little waste, has low disposal costs and no toxic by-products making the process more environmentally friendly than other methods.

Paint removal requires 2-3 steps to achieve good quality, repeatable results. Firstly, a main pass using long pulse durations and high pulse energy removes the majority of the paint layer. For the second pass, short pulses and high scanning speeds are needed to remove the remaining paint without damaging the substrate. The second pass can be repeated if necessary. Finally, an optional third pass to improve surface quality. This entire process can take <2.3s/cm2.

Related articles

Also, read the following related articles for additional information:

• Fiber laser cleaning an entirely chemical-free process
• Rust removal with fiber lasers
• Laser cleaning Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• Laser cleaning of Metal Surfaces
• Surface preparation treatment with fiber lasers

Contact SPI Lasers for all your laser paint removal and cleaning requirements

SPI Lasers are here to help with any queries or enquiries you may have about ablation processes or the other laser-based processes our lasers deliver. Why not call us on 01489 779 696 or complete our contact enquiry form. To receive the latest updates from SPI Lasers, click this link.

To download this Applications Postcard as a PDF click here!