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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Phys.
Sec. Optics and Photonics
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fphy.2025.1505581
This article is part of the Research Topic Advances in High-Power Lasers for Interdisciplinary Applications, Volume II View all 3 articles

Surface quality study of paint stripping on aircraft skins with high energy nanosecond pulsed laser cleaning

Provisionally accepted
Hai-Xin Zhang Hai-Xin Zhang 1,2*Ya-Chong Hou Ya-Chong Hou 1*Yun-Fei Li Yun-Fei Li 1,2*Yun-Fei Yang Yun-Fei Yang 1,2*Kai Li Kai Li 1Jian-Feng Yue Jian-Feng Yue 1,2*Meng Yu Jia Meng Yu Jia 1,2*Yi-Ting Han Yi-Ting Han 3*Yu Yu Yu Yu 1,2*Wang Gong Wang Gong 1,2Shu-Ping Hou Shu-Ping Hou 3*Yu Lei WANG Yu Lei WANG 1,2Zhi- Wei Lu Zhi- Wei Lu 1,2*
  • 1 School of Electronic and Information Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Beichen District, China
  • 2 Center for Advanced Laser Technology, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China
  • 3 Tianjin University of Commerce, Tianjin, Tianjin Municipality, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    The aerospace sector requires materials, particularly aluminum alloys, to possess advanced mechanical properties for aircraft skins. Consequently, the industry implements protective coatings to counteract erosion and abrasion. Yet, as time progresses, these coatings can degrade, prompting careful paint removal to extend the longevity of aircraft. This research investigates methods to improve laser cleaning efficiency while safeguarding paint quality. It utilizes a nanosecond pulsed laser to assess factors such as laser energy, cleaning angle, and out-of-focus volume on cleaning efficacy. The findings demonstrate that the optimal energy for cleaning is 20 mJ; exceeding this threshold results in damage to the substrate. Additionally, the cleaning angle significantly impacts efficiency, with an 11°angle yielding the highest effectiveness. Manipulating the laser's focal point also alters cleaning quality, with 30 mm providing the best outcomes. Single-point laser cleaning tests examined energy levels and cleaning cycles, highlighting that increased energy and cycles lead to surface damage and greater roughness. Furthermore, paint color affected cleaning performance, with blue paint exhibiting superior cleaning effectiveness. This study advances the development of laser cleaning methods for aircraft skins, catering to industry needs for efficient, environmentally friendly maintenance practices.

    Keywords: aircraft skin, laser cleaning, nanosecond pulses, area cleaning, single spot cleaning

    Received: 03 Oct 2024; Accepted: 03 Jan 2025.

    Copyright: © 2025 Zhang, Hou, Li, Yang, Li, Yue, Jia, Han, Yu, Gong, Hou, WANG and Lu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Hai-Xin Zhang, School of Electronic and Information Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Beichen District, China
    Ya-Chong Hou, School of Electronic and Information Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Beichen District, China
    Yun-Fei Li, School of Electronic and Information Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Beichen District, China
    Yun-Fei Yang, School of Electronic and Information Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Beichen District, China
    Jian-Feng Yue, School of Electronic and Information Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Beichen District, China
    Meng Yu Jia, School of Electronic and Information Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Beichen District, China
    Yi-Ting Han, Tianjin University of Commerce, Tianjin, 300400, Tianjin Municipality, China
    Yu Yu, Center for Advanced Laser Technology, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China
    Shu-Ping Hou, Tianjin University of Commerce, Tianjin, 300400, Tianjin Municipality, China
    Zhi- Wei Lu, School of Electronic and Information Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Beichen District, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.