Process development and monitoring in stripping of a highly transparent polymeric paint with ns-pulsed fiber laser

Laser paint removal was studied with ns-pulsed fiber laser on the combination of 20 μm-thick, white polymeric paint and Al alloy substrate. The response of paint to single pulse ablation was evaluated to measure the ablated zone dimensions. With this information, the effect of overlap, number of passes and pulse repetition rate was evaluated to investigate machining depth. Optical emission spectroscopy was used to investigate the machining behaviour as well as to propose monitoring strategies. The results showed that despite the high transparency of the paint, complete paint removal can be achieved with reduced substrate damage (Sa = 1.3 μm). The emission spectroscopy can be used to identify removal completion as well as the reach of substrate material. The observations were also used to explain a paint removal mechanism based on thermal expansion of the paint and mechanical action provided by the plasma expansion from the substrate material.