Laser cleaning is a new green surface cleaning technology that does not require the use of any media or chemicals. In recent years, as researchers pay attention to laser cleaning technology and a lot of human and material resources, laser cleaning application has gained strong research significance in the field of maintenance and guarantee. Despite this explanation, we still do not seem to know what laser cleaner can clean? Then this article will reveal the answer for you.
Applications of Laser Cleaning in Machine Maintenance
Today, laser cleaning technology is used in many manufacturing fields such as microelectronics, rail transportation, aviation, shipping, automotive and so on. Typical laser cleaning applications mainly include rust removal, paint removal, oxide film removal etc.. And the future will show a diversified trend.
1.Paint removal
For the purpose of meeting the needs of corrosion protection, heat insulation, stealth and other different functions. Thus, equipment surfaces often have special functional coatings applied to them. However, the coating will need to come back on after a period of time.For example, it is usually necessary to remove the aircraft skin and re-spray paint every 4 to 5 years. Therefore, the cleaning of the surface paint layer is one of the techniques that must of necessity a solution in maintenance.
As we all know that lasers are effective in removing paint layers from the surface of Plexiglas and aluminum substrates. In addition, studies have shown that aircraft surface paint has undergone cleaning using a co2 laser. With a repetition frequency of 100 Hz and an energy density of 5 J/cm2, it was possible to effectively clean the paint layer without any damage to the substrate surface. For large aircraft skin surface cleaning, co2 laser paint removal system is already used in the metal fixed-wing aircraft surface paint removal. Along with the laser cleaning technology research gradually in-depth and related equipment constantly updated, the laser cleaning technology applied to the equipment surface paint removal operations will be a future development trend.
2.Rust removal
The surface of the device or parts exposed to air and rain for a long time is prone to produce corrosion layer. Rust layer on the surface of the equipment not only affects the use of performance to accelerate the corrosion of the equipment. The use of safety and service life has a serious impact, but also affects the accuracy of detection in the process of equipment maintenance. Early discovery of long wavelength Nd : YAG laser rust removal effect is remarkable.
The use of 1064 nm pulsed laser rust removal experiments, found that the main mechanism of rust layer removal is related to the energy density. The main mechanism is thermoelastic expansion and vibration when the energy density is small. The main mechanisms at higher energy densities are melting and vaporization. Comparison of different laser cleaning equipment reveals that the cleaning quality of fiber lasers is better than that of co2 lasers. Overall laser rust removal has been in the industrial field is very common phenomenon.
3.Oxide film removal
Over time, a large number of contaminants, including oil, carbon and other residues, collect on component surfaces (oil filters, injectors, blades, etc.). These contaminants not only increase energy consumption and reduce the reliability and life of the equipment. It may even pose a threat to the health of the operator.
Laser cleaning applied to parts and components of oil, engine injector oil and carbon research is gradually increasing. Compared with traditional cleaning methods there are obvious advantages. The laser cleaning process is easy to operate and is suitable for rapid cleaning of oil or carbon deposits on large surfaces. With the laser toward high power and high integration development, as well as cleaning control to intelligent precision transformation. Laser cleaning technology is expected to be widely used in the engine repair, large-scale equipment, internal parts surface oil contamination and other industrial fields.
