A comparative study of the effects of laser wavelength on laser removal of chlorinated rubber

• Published in: Applied surface science Vol. 138; pp. 418 - 423
• Main Authors: Schmidt, M.J.J, Li, L, Spencer, J.T, Key, P.H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 1999
• Subjects: Chlorinated rubber; CO 2 laser; Concrete; Decontamination; Diode laser; Excimer laser; Paint; 42.55.Px; 42.55.Lt; 42.62.Hk; Decontamination; Diode laser; CO 2 laser; LC; Chlorinated rubber; Concrete; 79.20.D; Paint; Excimer laser
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/S0169-4332(98)00579-0

This paper compares the use of different lasers for the removal of Chlorinated Rubber (CR) coatings from concrete surfaces. The work involves the investigation of basic phenomena and reactions of CR to various laser wavelengths, including CO 2 (10.6 μm), diode (810 nm) and ArF excimer (193 nm) laser radiation. Characteristics of beam absorption, residues and the thermal effects on the materials are analysed by optical microscopy, SEM and EDX. By calculating the thermal loading ( γ) of the materials for the different lasers it has been revealed that the diode and excimer laser removal processes have very similar thermal loading with a γ value of 1.2 kJ/cm 3 for the excimer laser and 1.5 kJ/cm 3 for the diode laser. The similarity of the two arises from the fact that this thermal loading is of the same order of magnitude as the dissociation energy of the primary bonds. The thermal loading for the CO 2 laser process is around 100 J/cm 3, an order of magnitude smaller than the other two systems