Light source control for laser cleaning

Principle of laser cleaning
Laser cleaning is to use the characteristics of laser beam, such as large energy density, controllable direction and strong convergence ability, to destroy the binding force between pollutants and the matrix or to directly gasify pollutants to decontaminate, reduce the binding strength between pollutants and the matrix, and then achieve the role of cleaning the workpiece surface. The principle of laser cleaning is shown in the figure below. When the pollutants on the surface of the workpiece absorb the energy of the laser, they will overcome the force between the pollutants and the substrate surface after rapid gasification or instant thermal expansion. Due to the increase of the heating energy, the pollutant particles will fall off from the substrate surface after vibration.

Application of Laser Cleaning
Laser cleaning, as the first process in industrial production, can not only effectively remove rust and dirt, but also cause chemical reaction on the surface of the substrate to generate a protective layer to prevent the substrate from rusting again and improve its corrosion resistance. At present, laser cleaning technology has been applied to military industry, mold cleaning, surface treatment, microelectronics, cultural relic protection and medical treatment and other fields.

Light source control for laser cleaning
In order to optimize the laser cleaning effect on the surface of the object to be cleaned, it is necessary to comprehensively consider the laser cleaning method, cleaning model, laser wavelength, energy density, power, pulse frequency, pulse time, laser incidence angle and other process parameters. Pulse laser can effectively clean the rust on the surface of carbon steel. Only by systematically studying the process parameters can an efficient laser cleaning system be formed. For example, pulse width: laser cleaning can change the grain structure and orientation of the substrate surface without damaging the substrate surface, and can also control the surface roughness of the substrate, thus enhancing the comprehensive performance of the substrate surface. As an important parameter of laser cleaning, pulse width should be controlled reasonably. Reasonable control of pulse width will greatly improve the efficiency control and effect of cleaning. However, the pulse width adjustment will also affect the changes of other parameters, so it is necessary to systematically study the relationship between the parameters and a large number of experiments to obtain the optimal effect. As an advanced technology in laser manufacturing, laser cleaning technology has great potential in industrial development. It is of great strategic significance to vigorously develop laser cleaning technology.

Source: Vision of Insight