Asbestos-Containing Material

Asbestos-coating-contamination differs from organic residues because it forms dense, fibrous layers on metal surfaces during industrial exposure. Layer builds up tightly and resists initial breakdown, so laser cleaning faces unique challenges in penetration. Before ablation, contamination embeds into substrate pores and creates uneven patterns across regions. Process applies pulsed energy, and heat causes fibers to fragment without scattering widely. During removal, material exhibits brittleness specific to its inorganic nature, so complete detachment requires controlled pulses to avoid residue re-adhesion. After treatment, surface shows improved uniformity because fragments disperse easily in air. Observations indicate that regional humidity influences formation thickness, and cleaning achieves better results on coated steels than alloys. Challenges arise from fiber durability, so intervals in laser passes prevent overheating. Contamination removal proves effective in applications like shipyard maintenance.

Ikmanda Roswati, Ph.D. from Indonesia