Applications of laser cleaning for different types of industries

The technology of light amplified by emission of stimulated radiation, that is to say, the laser, has more and more applications in the construction. When we apply this type of laser radiation on a surface, it is possible to pass through it (make cuts), mark it. We can use it to clean surfaces, such as metal, stone, wood ...

The main advantage that laser cleaning has in favour of another type of cleaning is the scarcity of residues. For example, cleaning by sandblasting and blasting has many small "projectiles" of sand and metal balls that we must clean later. In the case of lasers, we do not have that type of waste.

Unlike jet cleaning, the laser system works dry. It is a great advantage since it can be applied in any medium. Another benefit is that laser cleaning machines are becoming easier to transport and have manageability, very similar to a pressure washing machine, making it easy to clean areas that are difficult to access.

Operation of a laser cleaning machine

These machines work by generating a beam from a laser source communicating through a fibre optic cable to a system of mirrors (or mirrors) that transmit the laser in the desired shape. In the head is the instrument that guides the laser beam in a specific direction. 

Laser cleaning machines have a useful life of up to 100,000 hours, so they are instruments to clean continuously and without the need to recharge material or have another connected system, such as water, sand, etc.

Why is it useful in construction?

When the laser is applied, the material does not get very hot. In general, the heat-affected zone is small, so there is no thermal effect on the material, so there is no possibility of thermal damage. Due to this characteristic, laser cleaning is perfect for mould maintenance, paint removal, degreasing, mould removal, and restoration of materials in general.