The Technology behind Laser Ablation

All materials have an ablation threshold. It is a property that is unique to each material. When the intensity generated by a laser is above the material’s ablation threshold, the material is ablated. If the intensity is below the ablation threshold, nothing happens, except a slight increase in temperature.

Materials expelled from the surface are vaporized into fumes. Although these fumes are minimal, a fume extraction system is usually required near the laser for safety and to avoid accumulation and obstruction of the laser beam.

When laser light hits a surface, it is partly reflected, partly absorbed. The absorbed laser energy is converted into heat which ablates the material.

Due to  different laser source, each type of laser emits a different wavelength. The laser that emits the wavelength that is the least reflected by the material should be favoured. Fibre lasers for example, work more efficiently with metals.

Laser cleaning, also known as laser material removal, is an advanced method of eliminating material from a surface achieved through the precise manipulation of a scanned laser beam. This process utilizes laser thermal shock, which effectively peels off, vaporizes, sublimates, or burns away unwanted waste material without causing harm to the substrate. Laser cleaning is used across a variety of industries to remove unwanted surface materials like coatings, paints, rust, oil, and for surface preparation for welding and coating.

Careful optimization of laser parameters ensures that the process is carried out without damaging the underlying surface. The non-contact nature of laser cleaning makes the process highly repeatable, minimizes the generation of toxic waste, and offers precise control over the treatments effects on the surface. Precise laser targeting enables virtually perfect control over the shape and size of the material removal area  

From automotive and aerospace manufacturing to medical equipment and military applications, laser cleaning technology is revolutionizing industries across the globe. Its versatility, efficiency, and environmentally friendly nature make it an invaluable tool for a wide range of applications, ensuring clean, contaminant-free surfaces that are essential for optimal performance and longevity. 

 The reduction in environmental damage from using laser cleaning instead of chemicals is drastic.

Using chemicals is extremely harmful to the environment. Laser cleaning does not require any gathering of chemicals. Nor does laser cleaning emit gas into the air contributing to climate change or health issues. Further, laser cleaning does not require any disposal of chemicals. Laser cleaning does not produce any toxic waste or biohazards that may seep into water or air.

Chemicals are not used in laser cleaning with the MD-U or MD-X, making it much more environmentally friendly.