High pulse energy kW average power nanosecond lasers enable breakthrough in rapid coating removal

We demonstrate the use of kW class, high energy pulsed nanosecond lasers for surface cleaning applications. A hybrid ablation-detachment process allows removal rates of semi-transparent paint from primer at 40,000 mm³ /kW.min. The process shows a threshold at which a nonlinear increase in removal rate is observed for energies above 100mJ for most paints. The impact of pulsed laser de-painting on substrates is examined.