Selective single pulse femtosecond laser removal of alumina (Al2O3) from a bilayered Al2O3/TiAlN/steel coating

► We fired single shots of a femtosecond laser at Al2O3/TiAlN coating on steel. ► Laser fluences ranged from 0.11 J cm− 2 to 16.47 J cm− 2. ► Selective and clean removal of the Al2O3 layer was obtainable from 0.56 J cm− 2.