The Removal Mechanism of Surface Coatings from Aluminum Alloys via High-Power Nanosecond Pulsed Laser Interlaced Cleaning

The Removal Mechanism of Surface Coatings from Aluminum Alloys via High-Power Nanosecond Pulsed Laser Interlaced Cleaning | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article The Removal Mechanism of Surface Coatings from Aluminum Alloys via High-Power Nanosecond Pulsed Laser Interlaced Cleaning Jinghu Ji, Guipeng Shao, Yuyang He, Faquan Tang, Hao Fua, Yanhu Zhang This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6948460/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 21 Dec, 2025 Read the published version in The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology → Version 1 posted 5 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract With the rapid advancement of high-power lasers, the accumulation of thermal effects has emerged as a critical factor influencing processing quality. To investigate an efficient and non-destructive coating removal technique, this study utilizes high-power nanosecond pulsed lasers for cleaning paint layers from aluminum alloy surfaces. Experimental and numerical simulations were performed under various scanning methods and laser frequencies, demonstrating that the laser interlaced cleaning method achieves superior and non-destructive coating removal compared to traditional techniques. Laser frequency and energy density are identified as key parameters affecting cleaning efficiency. At a frequency of 15 kHz and an energy density of 3.75 J/cm², the paint layer is completely removed while preserving optimal substrate integrity. While complete removal is achieved at 10 kHz and 5 J/cm², slight substrate damage occurs; conversely, at a frequency of 20 kHz with insufficient energy density (2.5 J/cm²), incomplete coating removal and noticeable surface residues result. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) analyses confirm that interlaced cleaning significantly enhances uniform contaminant removal and reduces substrate damage. Further Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses reveal chemical changes on the surface after laser interlaced cleaning, indicating effective exposure and cleaning of the aluminum alloy substrate. The mechanisms of laser interlaced cleaning primarily involve ablation, vaporization, plasma shock, and elastic vibrations induced by thermal stress, all contributing to the removal of the paint layer while minimizing substrate damage. Interlaced cleaning High-power laser Aluminum alloy Cleaning mechanism Microstructure Full Text Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 21 Dec, 2025 Read the published version in The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Minor Revisions Needed 23 Oct, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 13 Jul, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 10 Jul, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 01 Jul, 2025 First submitted to journal 29 Jun, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6948460","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":483453373,"identity":"901f43fd-5cf9-4e03-a9df-3c885ff7ee2c","order_by":0,"name":"Jinghu 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To investigate an efficient and non-destructive coating removal technique, this study utilizes high-power nanosecond pulsed lasers for cleaning paint layers from aluminum alloy surfaces. Experimental and numerical simulations were performed under various scanning methods and laser frequencies, demonstrating that the laser interlaced cleaning method achieves superior and non-destructive coating removal compared to traditional techniques. Laser frequency and energy density are identified as key parameters affecting cleaning efficiency. At a frequency of 15 kHz and an energy density of 3.75 J/cm\u0026sup2;, the paint layer is completely removed while preserving optimal substrate integrity. While complete removal is achieved at 10 kHz and 5 J/cm\u0026sup2;, slight substrate damage occurs; conversely, at a frequency of 20 kHz with insufficient energy density (2.5 J/cm\u0026sup2;), incomplete coating removal and noticeable surface residues result. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) analyses confirm that interlaced cleaning significantly enhances uniform contaminant removal and reduces substrate damage. Further Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses reveal chemical changes on the surface after laser interlaced cleaning, indicating effective exposure and cleaning of the aluminum alloy substrate. The mechanisms of laser interlaced cleaning primarily involve ablation, vaporization, plasma shock, and elastic vibrations induced by thermal stress, all contributing to the removal of the paint layer while minimizing substrate damage.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"The Removal Mechanism of Surface Coatings from Aluminum Alloys via High-Power Nanosecond Pulsed Laser Interlaced Cleaning","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-07-14 06:23:51","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6948460/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Minor Revisions Needed","date":"2025-10-23T15:09:07+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"","date":"2025-07-14T03:34:07+00:00","index":0,"fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-07-10T10:41:57+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-07-01T04:52:19+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology","date":"2025-06-29T04:30:10+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"the-international-journal-of-advanced-manufacturing-technology","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"jamt","sideBox":"Learn more about [The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology](https://www.springer.com/journal/170)","snPcode":"170","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/170/3","title":"The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"ff00ccac-cd62-4a03-87ad-30b258094959","owner":[],"postedDate":"July 14th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-12-22T16:00:08+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-6948460","link":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-025-17084-4","journal":{"identity":"the-international-journal-of-advanced-manufacturing-technology","isVorOnly":false,"title":"The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology"},"publishedOn":"2025-12-21 15:57:21","publishedOnDateReadable":"December 21st, 2025"},"versionCreatedAt":"2025-07-14 06:23:51","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1007/s00170-025-17084-4","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-025-17084-4","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-6948460","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-6948460","identity":"rs-6948460","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}