Polyvinyl Chloride Laser Cleaning Settings

When laser cleaning polyvinyl chloride, you must watch its low heat tolerance right from the start—it's a thermoplastic that softens quickly under intense energy, leading to warping or melting if you're not careful. This makes it different from metals, where heat spreads out fast; here, the energy stays localized because it doesn't conduct heat well, so you risk damaging the surface before buildup even clears. Start with reduced power to build up gradually, and keep scan speeds high to limit exposure time on any spot. You'll find it absorbs laser light readily, which helps remove contaminants efficiently without much reflection loss, but always test on a small area first to avoid pitting. For best results, use multiple light passes with good overlap, letting it cool between them—this restores the smooth finish on pipes or panels without compromising its corrosion resistance or flexibility.