Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus and method for removal of material from a substrate or structure including a broadband flashlamp-type radiator for providing broadband radiant energy, an ultraviolet radiator, lamp head or other focusing means for directing the broadband radiant energy and ultraviolet radiant energy onto the surface of the coating or coatings or other material to be removed, thereby resulting in the ablation and photodissociation of the material, and a residual constituents removing means, such as flowing CO.sub.2 pellets, liquid CO.sub.2, jets of compressed air, particles or other flowing gases or liquids. A method of controlling the removal of material from a structure comprising the steps of determining thermal conductivities, densities and heat capacities of the material to be removed, determining a pulse duration of broadband radiant energy, with a bandwidth between about 390 nm and about 1100 nm, required for removal of the desired thickness of material by direct correlation of the pulse duration and thermal conductivity and inverse correlation with the heat capacities and densities of the material, and determining a pulse duration of ultraviolet radiant energy, with a bandwidth between about 150 nm and about 390 nm, required for removal of the desired thickness of material by direct correlation of the pulse duration and thermal conductivity and inverse correlation with the heat capacities and densities of the material.

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First Claim