Surface preparation by using laser cleaning in thermal spray

Pulsed laser cleaning has emerged as a promising technology to challenge traditional surface preparation methods. This paper introduces the PROTAL® process, which combines an in situ pulsed laser cleaning with thermal spraying techniques. This laser surface preparation avoids some drawbacks of the traditional degreasing and sand-blasting stages prior to thermal spraying, which is especially meaningful for ductile and notch-sensitive materials. The laser induced phenomenon and the significant role of such laser irradiation in the coating deposition are presented.