True Ablation
The FP-300 doesn't burn paint off — it ablates it. The laser energy is absorbed by the coating, which vaporizes in nanoseconds. The bare aluminum underneath reflects the laser and stays untouched. That's why the FP-300 can remove paint but won't burn paper.
This isn't heat-based removal. It's selective absorption. Contaminants absorb. Metal reflects. No chemicals. No sanding. No contact. Just light.
How Laser Ablation Works
Absorption
The laser pulse hits the surface. Paint, primer, corrosion, and organic contaminants absorb the 1064nm wavelength strongly. The energy is concentrated in the coating layer.
Vaporization
The absorbed energy causes the contaminant to rapidly heat, crack, and vaporize in nanoseconds. The material is ablated — converted directly from solid to gas — without burning.
Reflection
When the coating is gone, bare aluminum reflects the laser light. The energy bounces off instead of being absorbed. This is the built-in safety mechanism — the substrate protects itself.
Extraction
Vaporized material is captured by a standard HEPA/activated carbon vacuum extraction system. No liquid waste, no chemical residue, no environmental disposal — just a dry, clean process.
The Paper Test
The simplest demonstration of true ablation: the FP-300 strips paint from a surface but won't burn a sheet of paper held directly in the beam path. The paper reflects the 1064nm wavelength just like bare aluminum — there's nothing to absorb, so nothing happens.
True Laser Ablation: Remove Paint, But Not Burn Paper — FP-300 Demonstration
Why Ablation Beats the Alternatives
Every other method either damages the substrate, creates hazardous waste, or both.
Chemical Stripping
- ×Toxic solvents (methylene chloride, NMP)
- ×Hazardous waste disposal required
- ×Worker exposure and PPE requirements
- ×Environmental compliance costs
- ×Slow — hours to days per panel
- ×Can soften or damage composites
Mechanical Sanding/Blasting
- ×Physical contact risks substrate thinning
- ×Uneven material removal
- ×Dust and particle contamination
- ×Can mask underlying corrosion
- ×Operator skill-dependent results
- ×Damages rivet heads and fasteners
Heat-Based Methods
- ×Transfers heat into substrate
- ×Risk of warping thin aluminum
- ×Heat-affected zones change grain structure
- ×Temperature monitoring critical
- ×Can weaken heat-treated alloys
- ×Not suitable for composites
See ablation in action
Schedule a live demo or browse our video library showing real aircraft components cleaned with the FP-300.