Xenon Flash Lamp General Information Xenon flash lamp cleaning vaporizes organic coatings by using intense pulsed light energy. A quartz tube filled with xenon gas is electrically energized 4 to 6 times per second to emit a brilliant flash of light. As this energy is absorbed by the coating, the surface temperature rises to the point at which a thin layer is ablated and released from the surface. Typical standoff distance of the lamp from the substrate is 1.5 inches. Each pulse of light removes approximately 1 mil of coating. Coatings can be removed without damaging composite or metal substrates at a rate of up to 4 sq ft/min. Original primer coatings and chromate conversion coatings can be left intact. Vapors created by the process are contained either through adsorption or filtration. Xenon flash lamp cleaning may be used in conjunction with other techniques so that, as the coating is ablated by the flash lamp, the substrate is protected from overheating. The process is being used in conjunction with CO2 pellets by the US Air Force to strip F-15 aircraft composite structures. As the coating is ablated by the flash lamp, the pellets simultaneously cool the thin substrate and remove the residue. State Information | Glossary | Conversion Checklist | Comments Home | Process Advisor | Alternatives | Links | Search All SAGE material, Copyright© 1992, Research Triangle Institute Last Update: 18 March 1995 sage@rti.org http://clean.rti.org/alt.cfm?id=xe&cat=gi