There’s no denying that laser is gaining popularity as the ideal method for cleaning surfaces of materials. Nowadays, laser rust removal machine is widely used because of its efficiency and reliability. Think about the manufacturing plants, medical labs, steel fabrication industries, aviation, and automotive; the laser is the preferred choice when surface cleaning materials.
The laser method is now slowly replacing the manual, chemical, and abrasive blasting methods. What makes laser cleaning more appealing is the fact that the method is nonhazardous and nonabrasive while being more effective.
Moreover, using lasers in cleaning applications comes with several other benefits: increased safety, reduced waste products, the nonrandom and automated cleaning method, there’s no need for blasting media or chemicals, and a noncontact and nonabrasive cleaning method.
So, where is laser cleaning usually applied?
Applications for Laser Cleaning
Adhesive Bonding Preparation
In most cases, when metallic materials are prepared to be joined, the surface must be well prepared before welding, and several other joining techniques are applied. This is usually done to ensure that they increase surface adhesion, stability, as well as better seam quality.
Without groundwork, seams and joints are susceptible to increased wear, degradation, and catastrophic failure.
Therefore, laser cleaning is used to prepare surfaces before they’re joined, hence resulting in strength quality for improved corrosion resistance as well as durability. It removes oxides and contaminants like grease that reduce the strength of the adhesive bonds.
Rust Removal In Steel Fabrication
It’s pretty obvious that laser cleaning has found its space as the best effective and efficient method in removing rust as well as the scale from metallic materials.
Usually, rust and scales result from artificial or natural processes that form on the surface of a metal, especially steel.
Such unwanted surface deposits can only be removed and require descaling processes that will provide smooth surfaces without being abrasive or even hazardous to the environment.
Therefore, laser cleaning is the must-go-to alternative as it is efficient, nonabrasive, and environmental-friendly. Moreover, it can be applied to surface profiling. Before applying protective coatings to fabricated steel for protection against corrosive action and preservation, the surfaces have to be clean and free from contaminants.
Anode Assembly Cleaning
Dirt in the anode can result in an increase in an anode’s electrical resistance that can increase cell power consumption. Moreover, they can result in reducing their lifespan, whereby it increases the consumption rate during the smelting process.
Therefore, it’s a no brainer that the anode should be cleaned before being used in the aluminum smelting operations. There’s no better way to do that than using the laser as it ticks all the boxes for anode assembly cleaning.
Selective Paint Removal
It usually happens in the aerospace and automobile industry, whereby the top layer of paint should be removed before applying new paint. Given that the layer is chemically and physically different from the underlying layer, only a laser can help to remove only the top layer.
Partial Decoating
Where partial removal of paint is required, laser cleaning has proved to be the best option. It can be used on almost all surfaces, and it maintains the integrity of the primer substance.
Laser cleaning is gaining traction and can be used for surface cleaning, polishing, and coating removal. Several industries are aping into its benefits and are reaping the rewards.
