Laser Cleaning

Laser cleaning is based on the process of laser ablation which consist in the elimination of a controlled amount of surface material from a substrate upon irradiation with a pulsed laser. Material elimination is accompanied by the generation of a luminous plasma and thus the cleaning effect can be monitored on-line via laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). This process offers unique possibilities for surface cleaning as it entails precise control, material selectivity and immediate feedback, advantages that are particularly important in Heritage conservation. Laser cleaning allows the controlled removal of unwanted layers constituted by materials of diverse origin (organic and inorganic), assembled in mixtures (e.g., thick pollution, burial accumulations) or in layers (e.g., multiple protective, metallic, dirt and/or overpaint layers) on weathered, even fragile, original surfaces. This FIXLAB possesses a variety of pulsed laser sources emitting in the ultraviolet, visible and infrared spectral ranges with pulse duration in the nanosecond regime. Laser cleaning investigations are carried out on a large variety of heritage materials, including varnished paintings, polychromes on wood or stone, heritage stone with pollution and/or biodegradation crusts, metal substrates with corrosion layers, paper and parchment-based documents and other materials. Studies aim at determining the most adequate laser parameters and the most convenient methodologies (choice of laser wavelength, dual irradiation schemes, etc.) for a safe laser cleaning treatment according with material properties and state of conservation, at designing optimization procedures and mitigation strategies (elimination without damage), at identifying of side effects, etc.

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Laser Cleaning

Cleaning; Material removal

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