Laser ablation for the environmentally beneficial removal of surface coatings

A laser-based coating removal system comprising:

• a. a surface comprising a coating;
• and
• b. a laser based removal apparatus comprising
• i. a laser source to provide a laser pulse to a first position on the surface, wherein the laser source removes the coating from the surface by rapidly elevating a surface temperature of the first position using the laser pulse and thereby disassociating the coating from the surface.

A method for removing Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) from a surface comprising:

• a. directing a laser pulse to a first position on the surface;
• b. elevating a surface temperature of the first position using the laser pulse to an oxidation temperature of the DLC thereby converting it to vapor-phase carbon dioxide;
• and
• c. collecting the disassociated DLC from the surface.

A method of removing Vitrified Contaminant Material (CMAS) from a surface comprising:

• a. directing a laser pulse to a first position on the surface;
• b. elevating a surface temperature of the first position using the laser pulse to disassociate the components of the CMAS from the surface and disaggregating the admixture;
• and
• c. collecting the disassociated CMAS from the surface.

A method for removing Hexavalent Chromium from a surface comprising:

• a. directing a laser pulse to a first position on the surface;
• b. elevating a surface temperature of the first position using the laser pulse to a temperature at which the hexavalent chromium is disassociated from the surface and reduced to a particulate form of trivalent chromium and particulate effluent;
• and
• c. collecting the trivalent chromium and particulate effluent from the surface.