The application of protective organic coatings is one of the most effective and commonly used corrosion mitigation strategies. To maintain the protective nature of coatings on long-term-exposed surfaces such as steel bridge components, coatings must be periodically removed and reapplied. A relatively new method called laser ablation coating removal (LACR), which incorporates a high energy nanosecond pulsed laser beam in combination with a high efficiency filtration system, allows for safe and effective removal of coatings and contamination from metal surfaces. In this study, LACR cleaning is tested on legacy bridge steel components to investigate the effect on substrate cleanliness and steel mechanical properties. These bridge sections were never blasted and contain a 20–100 μm thick mill-scale layer (iron oxide) below several coating layers (including lead-rich coatings). The top micron of the oxide layer is melted by LACR and also thermally insulates the underlying steel and prevents any melting within the metallic substrate. The resulting surfaces are analyzed using microscopy, hardness testing, tensile, and fatigue testing, and it is shown that LACR does not cause any measurable detrimental effects to the bulk mechanical properties of the bridge steel, as well as effectively removes all paint coatings. Furthermore, adhesion testing on LACR-cleaned substrates shows excellent adhesion, qualifying above adhesion requirements for coated steel.
REFERENCES
1.
S. R.
Sharp
, B. M.
Donaldson
, J. L.
Milton
, and C. W.
Fleming
, “Preliminary assessment of procedures for coating steel components on Virginia bridges,” No. 14-R1, Virginia Center for Transportation Innovation and Research, Charlottesville, Virginia (2013
).2.
G. X.
Chen
, T. J.
Kwee
, K. P.
Tan
, Y. S.
Choo
, and M. H.
Hong
, J. Laser Micro Nanoen.
7
, 249
(2012
). 3.
D. M.
D’Addona
, S.
Genna
, A.
Giordano
, C.
Leone
, D.
Matarazzo
, and L.
Nele
, Proc. Cirp.
33
, 464
(2015
). 4.
R. L.
Cargill
, “Closed-loop laser ablation for navy maintenance applications
,” in ASNE, Symposium Paper, General Lasertronics Corporation
, Fremont, CA,
31 August 2011 (American Society of Naval Engineers, Alexandria, VA, 2011
).5.
T.
Naguy
and R.
Straw
, “Technical AFRL laser technology for aerospace maintenance and sustainment applications
,” 22, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
(2009
).6.
J. D.
Head
, and J. P.
Niedzielski
, “Laser paint stripping
,” Final Report, Laser Technologies Inc. Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH (1991
).7.
R. E.
Litchfield
, G. W.
Critchlow
, and S.
Wilson
, Int. J. Adhes. Adhes.
26
, 295
(2006
). 8.
F. K.
Hopkins
, Opt. Photon. News
9
, 32
(1998
). 9.
G.
Schweizer
and L.
Werner
, in Gas Flow and Chemical Lasers: Tenth International Symposium
, Friedrichshafen, Germany, 5-9 September 1994 (SPIE, Bellingham, WA, 1994
), Vol. 2502, p. 57
.10.
Ph.
Delaporte
, M.
Gastaud
, W.
Marine
, M.
Sentis
, O.
Uteza
, P.
Thouvenot
, J. L.
Alcaraz
, J. M.
Le Samedy
, and D.
Blin
, Appl. Surf. Sci.
208
, 298
(2003
). 11.
12.
J. P.
Nilaya
, P.
Raote
, A.
Kumar
, and D. J.
Biswas
, Appl. Surf. Sci.
254
, 7377
(2008
). 13.
M. K. A. A.
Razab
, A. M.
Noor
, M. S.
Jaafar
, N. H.
Abdullah
, F. M.
Suhaimi
, M.
Mohamed
, N.
Adam
, N. A.
Auli
, and N. A. A. N.
Yusuf
, J. Radiat. Res.
11
, 393
(2018
).14.
J.
Marczak
, A.
Koss
, P.
Targowski
, M.
Góra
, M.
Strzelec
, A.
Sarzyński
, W.
Skrzeczanowski
, R.
Ostrowski
, and A.
Rycyk
, Sensors
8
, 6507
(2008
). 15.
S.
Siano
and R.
Salimbeni
, Accounts Chem Res.
43
, 739
(2010
). 16.
M.
Bertasa
and C.
Korenberg
, J. Cult. Herit.
53
, 100
(2022
). 17.
E.
Angelini
, S.
Grassini
, M.
Olivero
, M.
Parvis
, and G.
Perrone
, IMTCP
(IEEE
, Taipei
, 2016
), Vol. 1.18.
F.
Brygo
, A.
Semerok
, R.
Oltra
, J. M.
Weulersse
, and S.
Fomichev
, Appl. Surf. Sci.
252
, 8314
(2006
). 19.
Y. K.
Madhukar
, S.
Mullick
, D. K.
Shukla
, S.
Kumar
, and A. K.
Nath
, Appl. Surf. Sci.
264
, 892
(2013
). 20.
M. P.
Mateo
, T.
Ctvrtnickova
, E.
Fernandez
, J. A.
Ramos
, A.
Yanez
, and G.
Nicolas
, Appl. Surf. Sci.
255
, 5579
(2009
). 21.
Y. C.
Guan
, G. K. L.
Ng
, H. Y.
Zheng
, M. H.
Hong
, X.
Hong
, and Z.
Zhang
, Appl. Surf. Sci.
270
, 526
(2013
). 22.
A.
Papanikolaou
, G. J.
Tserevelakis
, K.
Melessanaki
, C.
Fotakis
, G.
Zacharakis
, and P.
Pouli
, Opto-Electronic Adv.
3
, 19003701
(2020
). 23.
M. P.
Fiorucci
, A. J.
López
, A.
Ramil
, S.
Pozo
and T.
Rivas
, in Second International Conference on Applications of Optics and Photonics
, Lisbon, Portugal, 7-9 January 2014 (SPIE
, Bellingham, WA, 2014
), Vol. 9286, p. 138
.24.
E.
Dimitroulaki
, G. J.
Tserevelakis
, K.
Melessanaki
, G.
Zacharakis
, and P.
Pouli
, J. Cult. Herit.
63
, 230
(2023
). 25.
A.
Kearns
, C.
Fischer
, K. G.
Watkins
, M.
Glasmacher
, H.
Kheyrandish
, A.
Brown
, W. M.
Steen
, and P.
Beahan
, Appl. Surf. Sci.
127
, 773
(1998
). 26.
F. D.
Zhang
, H.
Liu
, C.
Suebka
, Y. X.
Liu
, Z.
Liu
, W.
Guo
, Y. M.
Cheng
, S. L.
Zhang
, and L.
Li
, Appl. Surf. Sci.
435
, 452
(2018
). 27.
P. T.
Mannion
, J.
Magee
, E.
Coyne
, G. M.
O’connor
, and T. J.
Glynn
, Appl. Surf. Sci.
233
, 275
(2004
). 28.
Y.
Jee
, M. F.
Becker
, and R. M.
Walser
, J. Opt. Soc. Am B
5
, 648
(1988
).29.
V.
Zinnecker
, S.
Madden
, C.
Stokes-Griffin
, P.
Compston
, A. V.
Rode
, and L.
Rapp
, Opt. Laser Technol.
148
, 107757
(2022
). 30.
K.
Labuschagne
and S. L.
Pityana
, in Proceedings of the Third International WLT—Conference on Lasers in Manufacturing
, Munich
, Germany 13-16 June 2005 (AT-Fachverlag, Stuttgart, 2005
).31.
T.
Lippert
, in Laser-Surface Interactions for New Materials Production
, edited by A.
Miotello
and P. M.
Ossi
(Springer
, New York
, 2009
), Vol. 130, pp. 141
–175
.32.
J. F.
Coutouly
, P.
Deprez
, F.
Breaban
, and J. P.
Longuemard
, J. Mater. Proc. Technol.
209
, 5730
(2009
). 33.
34.
D. E.
Roberts
, Appl. Phys A.
79
, 1067
(2004
). 35.
X.
Zhou
, K.
Imasaki
, H.
Furukawa
, H.
Umino
, K.
Sakagishi
, S.
Nakai
, and C.
Yamanaka
, Surf. Coat. Technol.
137
, 170
(2001
). 36.
37.
M. K. A. A.
Razab
, M. S.
Jaafar
, N. H.
Abdullah
, M. F. M.
Amin
, and M.
Mohamed
, J. Russ Laser Res.
37
, 197
(2016
). 38.
Md.
Shamsujjoha
, S. R.
Agnew
, M. A.
Melia
, J. R.
Brooks
, T. J.
Tyler
, and J. M.
Fitz-Gerald
, Surf. Coat. Technol.
281
, 193
(2015
). 39.
Md.
Shamsujjoha
, S. R.
Agnew
, J. R.
Brooks
, T. J.
Tyler
, and J. M.
Fitz-Gerald
, Surf. Coat. Technol.
281
, 206
(2015
). 40.
ASTM D4541-09. Standard Test Method for Pull-Off Strength of Coatings Using Portable Adhesion Testers, Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Volume 06.02, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, (2010).
41.
ASTM D7234-19, Standard Test Method for Pull-Off Adhesion Strength of Coatings on Concrete Using Portable Pull-Off Adhesion Testers, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, (2019).
42.
A36/A36M-14: Standard Specification for Carbon Structural Steel, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, (2014).
43.
J. E.
Shigley
, J.
Edward
, and C. R.
Mischke
, Mechanical Engineering Design: In SI Units
(McGraw-Hill
, New York
, 2005
).44.
F. C.
Campbell
, Elements of Metallurgy and Engineering Alloys
(ASM International
, Detroit
, 2008
).45.
J.
Nattaj
, Md.
Safe
, F.
Majid
, H.
Chaffoui
, and Md. El.
Ghorba
, Int. J. Mech. Eng. (IIJME)
4
, 1
(2016
).46.
J.
Maciejewski
, J. Failure Anal. Prev.
15
, 169
(2015
). 47.
Y.
Ito
, N.
Masumitsu
, and K.
Maysubara
, Trans. ISIJ
21
, 477
(1981
). 48.
N.
Cyril
, A.
Fatemi
, and B.
Cryderman
, SAE Int. J. Mater. Manuf.
1
, 218
(2009
). 49.
G. X.
Chen
, T. J.
Kwee
, K. P.
Tan
, Y. S.
Choo
, and M. H.
Hong
, Appl. Phys. A.
101
, 249
(2010
). 50.
J.
Min
, H.
Wan
, B. E.
Carlson
, J.
Lin
, and C.
Sun
, Opt. Laser Technol.
128
, 106188
(2020
). 2024 Published under an exclusive license by the AVS.
2024
Author(s)
You do not currently have access to this content.
