Laser cleaning of copper roofing sheets subjected to long-lasting environmental corrosion

• DOI: 10.1007/s00339-010-5686-0
• Publication Date: 2010-04-19T15:07:46Z
• Authors: H. Garbacz; E. Fortuna; J. Marczak; M. Strzelec; A. Rycyk; A. Koss; J. Mróz; A. Zatorska; K. J. Kurzydłowski
• Keywords: Pulse duration

The study was concerned with the effect of the laser fluence and pulse duration on the microstructure of copper roofing of the Wilanow Palace in Warsaw (Poland) subjected to environmental degradation since the turn 19th century. The techniques used for the microstructure examinations included: SEM+EDS, X-ray diffraction analysis, surface profiling and colour analysis. The measurements of colour of the laser-cleaned surfaces showed that series of 100-μs pulses offer the most effective cleaning. It was also found that by controlling the number of laser pulses it is possible to control the roughness of the cleaned surface.