Pulsed laser coating removal by detachment and ejection

The pulsed laser removal of paint coatings from substrates by detachment and ejection of the entire layer has been studied. The dependence of the removal efficiency on fluence, coating thickness and pulse duration has been examined. For weakly absorbing coatings on easily ablating substrates, efficiencies as high as 800 μm cm2 J-1 have been measured, i.e., more than two orders of magnitude higher than obtainable by surface ablation.