Independently inspected project achieved an average surface profile of approximately 3.5 mils and a coating-ready, near-white-metal-equivalent surface condition without abrasive blasting, chemical treatment, or dry ice blasting.
-- Argento Lux, a U.S. manufacturer of A-LUX industrial laser-cleaning systems, has completed a corrosion-remediation and surface-preparation project on active chilled-water piping inside an occupied critical facility.
The heavily corroded steel piping sat in a congested mechanical space surrounded by adjacent piping, overhead infrastructure, sensitive instruments, and restricted clearances that limited conventional equipment. Laser ablation removed heavy corrosion, tightly bonded oxidation, residual factory coatings, factory markings, and deteriorated material while preserving the existing pipe.
After treatment, an independent NACE-certified coatings inspector, formally credentialed to the project, accepted the piping as coating-ready. The work met a near-white-metal surface condition equivalent to the specified SSPC-SP 10/NACE No. 2 benchmark, and project records documented an average surface profile of approximately 3.5 mils across the inspected areas. The specified protective coating system was then applied.
"This project was not simply about making the pipe look clean," said Tyrel Denver, founder of Argento Lux. "We had to remove deeply bonded corrosion without unnecessarily degrading the existing pipe, reach areas surrounded by other operating systems, create a measurable profile for coating adhesion, and deliver a surface that could pass independent inspection. Laser ablation gave us the precision and control necessary to accomplish all of those objectives within a highly sensitive environment."
Conventional Methods Presented Significant Limitations
The project’s environmental, access, and coating requirements ruled out several standard approaches. Abrasive blasting would have introduced blast media, dust, and contaminated debris near sensitive equipment, with material capable of migrating into adjacent systems.
Dry ice blasting was determined unsuitable because the continuous release of carbon dioxide was incompatible with the project environment, available clearances would not accommodate the applicator and hose assembly, and the process would not produce the required surface profile. Chemical stripping and acid-based rust removal were ruled out because of liquids, fumes, residues, and disposal concerns. Manual grinding and similar mechanical methods risked removing sound base metal and spreading debris.
Laser ablation was the only practical method identified that satisfied the combined requirements.
Precision Within a Restricted Environment
Using selected equipment, optics, and operating parameters, technicians directed the laser into restricted areas while maintaining the line of sight and focal distance required for ablation. Point-of-source extraction positioned near the work captured fumes and particulates as material was removed, keeping contamination localized rather than dispersing it through surrounding systems. Cleanliness and surface profile were evaluated as separate coating-preparation requirements, both assessed by the independent inspector rather than by Argento Lux.
Argento Lux has also published a comparison of dry ice blasting and laser ablation, covering corrosion and coating removal, surface profiling, hazardous-material control, restricted-access work, cleanup, cost, and best-fit applications for each method.
About the company: Argento Lux is a U.S. manufacturer of A-LUX industrial laser-cleaning systems, providing equipment, application development, operator training, field implementation, and lifetime after-sales support. Based in Alvarado, Texas, the company serves customers across the United States and international markets.
Contact Info:
Name: Tyrel Denver
Email: Send Email
Organization: Argento Lux
Address: Alvarado Texas
Phone: 682-459-2480
Website: https://www.argentolux.com/
Video URL: https://youtu.be/4mI_lM4iRAo?si=C0b6uiPeVfuvzFuu
Release ID: 89198132
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