The term "laser" is an acronym that stands for "Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation." Lasers work as a result of resonant effects and the output is referred to as a coherent electromagnetic field.

Laser ablation is a way to use lasers to remove dirt, grime, oils, chemicals, paint and other particulates on multiple sufaces, including metals, plastics and wood substrates without damaging the original surface.

Unlike media blasting, which requires extensive site preparation and setup, costly consumables and time-consuming cleanup, lasers remove particulates cleanly, safely and quickly.

A single laser technician is simply a better solution to physical and chemical cleaning processes with greater control and precision. It’s environmentally safer than using costly consumables required by media blasting solutions.

How Laser Ablation Works

Laser ablation, or photoablation (also called laser blasting), removes material from a solid (or occasionally liquid) surface by irradiating it with a laser beam. At low laser flux, the material is heated by the absorbed laser energy and evaporates or sublimates, requiring no cleanup.

As stated, a laser's light absorbs contaminants, changes their state to a gas and vaporizes it — without damaging the substrate. Industrial laser cleaning is effective for:

• Prepping surfaces for bonding
• Prepping surfaces for multiple types of coating
• Decontamination in the nuclear industry
• Surface prep for non-destructive testing
• Prepping materials for welding/brazing (both pre-treatment and post-treament)