Apart from the more common medical and cosmetic applications of IPL, InnoLas is developing machines for industrial cleaning.

This process involves electrically energizing a xenon flashlamp so that it emits a brilliant flash of light. This intense pulse of light is directed on to the component to be cleaned. The energy within the pulse of light is absorbed by the coating and the surface temperature rises to the point at which a thin layer is ablated and released from the surface.

Advantages of IPL Cleaning

• Coatings can be removed without damaging composite or metal substrates.
• Original primer coatings and chromate conversion coatings can be left intact.
• Vapors created by the process can be contained either through adsorption or filtration.

Xenon flash lamp cleaning may be used in conjunction with other techniques so that, as the coating is ablated by the flash lamp, the substrate is protected from overheating.

The process is being used in conjunction with CO2 pellets by the US Air Force to strip F-15 aircraft composite structures. As the coating is ablated by the flash lamp, the pellets simultaneously cool the thin substrate and remove the residue.

Investigations are also in progress in to removing contaminants from carbon tiles in the JET Tokamak at EFDA/JET Abingdon, Oxfordshire, UK.

Standard Machine Specifications:

Energy Per pulse: Up to 1500J

Pulse width: 100µs to 10ms

Repetition Rate: Single shot to 30Hz

We also produce many 'bespoke' systems and always enjoy a technical challenge, so if the standard product range doesn't include what you are looking for then please contact us and discuss your requirements.