Industrial Applications of Laser Cleaning Technology

Laser cleaning technology has been applied in multiple fields including instrument manufacturing, aviation, railways, cultural heritage preservation, and healthcare.

1. Precision instruments

       When removing esters and mineral oils used for lubrication and corrosion protection on precision instrument components, traditional chemical methods are typically employed. However, chemical cleaning often leaves residues behind. Laser degreasing can completely eliminate esters and mineral oils without damaging the component surface. The laser induces explosive vaporization of the thin oxide layer on the component surface, generating shock waves that dislodge contaminants—a process achieved without mechanical interaction.

2. Rail

                Workers manually clean using hand-held grinding wheels.

Currently, pre-welding cleaning of rails is entirely performed using grinding wheels and abrasive belts, resulting in severe damage to the base material and significant residual stresses. This method consumes vast quantities of grinding wheel consumables annually, incurs high costs, and causes severe dust pollution. Laser cleaning offers a high-quality, efficient, and environmentally friendly cleaning technology for China's high-speed rail track laying production. It addresses the aforementioned issues while eliminating welding defects such as holes and gray spots in seamless rails, thereby enhancing the stability and safety of China's high-speed rail operations.

3. Aviation Industry

Before repainting aircraft surfaces, existing paint must be completely removed. Chemical immersion/wiping is the primary paint stripping method in aviation, generating substantial chemical byproducts and failing to enable localized maintenance stripping. This process is labor-intensive and poses health hazards. Laser cleaning achieves high-quality paint removal from aircraft skin surfaces.

4. Cultural Heritage Preservation Industry

Using a laser cleaning machine to remove corrosion from bronze artifacts

The application of laser cleaning for cultural relics, artifacts, and architectural structures has become widespread. In Europe, various buildings have been cleaned using this method, such as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Poland and the West Wing of the Palace of Westminster in London. Employing a KrF excimer laser with a wavelength of 1.06 nm, this technique effectively removes grime from stone carvings and other artifacts (including limestone, marble, and bone) without damaging the cultural relics themselves. However, it is important to note that while laser cleaning technology is highly reliable, not all artifacts are suitable for laser treatment. For instance, colorful artifacts may suffer damage because different colors exhibit varying absorption spectra to laser light, leading to uneven energy absorption. Areas with higher energy absorption are more susceptible to damage.

5. Medical Industry

Laser cleaning has found applications in tattoo and eyebrow tattoo removal. Traditional methods involving chemical solutions or covering with new tattoos often fail to completely remove pigments, leaving scars or even posing health risks. Laser treatment targets the affected area, using its energy to rapidly shatter pigment particles. These particles are then eliminated through skin exfoliation and cellular phagocytosis. This approach delivers excellent results without damaging the patient's skin.

Advantages of Laser Cleaning

1. Environmentally friendly, requiring no chemical agents or cleaning solutions;

2. Cleaning residue primarily consists of solid powder, which is compact, easy to store, and recyclable;

3. Non-contact cleaning prevents damage to workpieces, leaves no residue, and avoids secondary pollution;

4. Fiber-optic transmission enables remote operation, ensuring personnel safety during cleaning in hazardous environments;

5. Compatible with CNC systems, robotic arms, or robots for automated cleaning, enhancing production efficiency and reducing manual labor intensity;

6. No consumables, low maintenance costs.

For more information about laser marking machines, laser welding machines, and laser cutting machines, please visit the official website of Top Optics Laser: http://www.tollaser.com