Laser and pyrolysis removal of fluorinated ethylene propylene thin layers applied on EN AW-5251 aluminium substrates

This work compares laser and pyrolysis removal procedures of the fluorinated ethylene propylene FEP-rich coatings applied on EN AW-5251 H34 aluminium magnesium alloy sheets. The study has been conducted in three successive FEP coating application-removal cycles. Roughness, yield and tensile strength, elongation percentage, hardness, grain size and constituent particles distribution of the processed samples have been analyzed. According to the results, it is concluded that similar mechanical properties has been obtained for both removal technologies, being the laser decoating removal rates lower than those achieved by the pyrolytic procedure. However, the laser decoating process is consolidated as an industrial alternative against the dangerous and harmful (to the environment) pyrolytic extraction systems.