Method for Delivering Safety and disposal Instructions to Personnel Who are Removing Coatings with Laser Processing

Abstract

A laser coating removal system includes a detector and a controller. The detector detects wavelengths associated with radiative emission of elements in laser-induced plasma generated by the laser coating removal. The controller generates concentration data based on the wavelengths, the concentration data indicating concentration of the elements in the laser-induced plasma, and notifies a user of the laser coating removal system in response to concentration of one of the elements in the laser-induced plasma being greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for laser coating removal comprising:
 detecting wavelengths associated with radiative emission of elements in laser-induced plasma generated by a laser coating removal system;   generating concentration data based on the wavelengths, the concentration data indicating concentration of the elements in the laser-induced plasma; and   notifying a user of the laser coating removal system in response to concentration of one of the elements in the laser-induced plasma being greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising setting the predetermined threshold based on toxicity of the one of the elements in the laser-induced plasma. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the notification includes one or more of health hazards posed by the one of the elements in the laser-induced plasma, safety instructions regarding the one of the elements in the laser-induced plasma, and instructions to dispose waste ash generated by the laser coating removal system; 
 the notification includes one or more of audio, visual, or both types of notifications; and 
 the notification is based on one or more of safety and disposal guidelines stored in the laser coating removal system. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 stopping the laser coating removal system in response to the concentration of the one of the elements in the laser-induced plasma being greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold; and 
 continuing operation of the laser coating removal system in response to receiving confirmation from the user. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising calibrating the laser coating removal system to compensate for background radiation at the wavelengths associated with the radiative emission of the elements in the laser-induced plasma. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising recording light intensity associated with the radiative emission as a function of wavelength. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising calibrating the laser coating removal system so that light intensity at different wavelengths corresponds to a concentration of one of the elements. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising identifying when removal of one layer of coating is complete and removal of another layer begins based on the wavelengths associated with the radiative emission of the elements in the laser-induced plasma. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 identifying when removal of one layer of coating is complete; and 
 beginning removal of another layer or stopping the laser coating removal system based on the wavelengths associated with the radiative emission of the elements in the laser-induced plasma. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 correlating one of the wavelengths associated with the radiative emission to a concentration of one of the elements in the laser-induced plasma; and 
 indicating a change of layer of coating based on a change in the concentration.