Method and composition for removing organic coatings from a substrate

Abstract

A method and composition for removing organic coatings or residues from a substrate is provided, which composition includes an organic carrier of ethanolamines and non-ionic alkylphenol ethoxylate surfactants and mixtures thereof and potassium hydroxide and being free of water. In use, the composition is formed by mixing the ethanolamines and the surfactants and adding the potassium hydroxide. The composition is maintained above the boiling point of water in liquid state, preferably from about 225° F. to about 350° F., and the workpieces having organic coatings or residues thereon, are immersed in the heated composition. If the composition is maintained essentially free of water, the alkali metal hydroxide will not attack substrates that would normally be attacked by alkali metal hydroxides when sufficient water is present to ionize the potassium hydroxide, such as zinc, aluminum and magnesium.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.