Laser removal of rac coating from composite material surfaces

Physical polishing, chemical removal and laser removal are three well-known methods to remove RAM (radar absorbing material) coatings from composite substrates. Their removal efficiency and effects on substrate properties are compared in this paper. Although thin RAM coatings (≤100μm) can be completely removed by all three methods, the exposed substrate materials exhibit various mechanical properties. While the physical polishing and chemical paint remover methods barely impact the tensile and flexural properties of the composite substrates, the laser removal method imposes a significant influence. Resins on the surface of the substrate composites partially evaporate with coatings under laser beam, and the average length of fibers decreases due to laser frying. It is suggested that the laser removal technique deteriorates the mechanical properties of the composite substrate after coating removal.