finishing-and-treatment-manufacturing-processes > Laser Cleaning

Laser Cleaning is the process of removing rust, dirt and debris from the surface of a material using short pulses of infrared light.

With Laser Cleaning, when the infrared light hits the component, the contamination on the surface absorbs the energy very quickly and rapidly heats up. However, due to the wavelength of the light emitted, the substrate remains cool. The difference in temperature between the contaminant and the substrate generates a strong enough force to remove the debris from the surface of the component without damaging the surface itself.

This process is highly controllable and can be automated, which makes it great for use in a manufacturing environment. Due to the lack of chemicals used and the little pollution produced by this method of cleaning, there is minimal waste and therefore less impact on the environment. Laser Cleaning is typically used in the aviation and pharmaceutical industries, as well as to remove paint from bridges and other infrastructures.