Conventional procedures for the decoating of steel surfaces are based on blasting technology. From an environmental point of view this process is controversial due to the fact that, in some cases, problematic substances must be removed and disposed of at some cost. Particulate emissions, which are also involved, are dangerous to workers and to the immediate environment.
In preparation for the renovation of the Ilsede spherical water tower, the use of the environment- and materialfriendly laser surface technology in a decoating and rust removal procedure on an industrial monument was scientifically evaluated for the first time. In the history of technological development the spherical water tower – erected in 1920/1921 – represents a high point in the evolution of riveted steel tanks.
The laser procedure uses a focused laser beam to remove the surface layer and rust layer through vaporization, without damaging the base material which, in this case, is the steel surface. Additional erosion of the steel is prevented. Through the use of a suction device coupled to the laser, the removed waste is pulverized and extracted directly from the environment. The water tower pilot experiment produced results which are important indicators for the future implementation of laser technology in the renovation of large steel structures. Lasers, in combination with a suction device, offer a clear environment-friendly alternative to traditional steel decoating procedures.
Laser technology is a good tool for decoating and cleaning, but alone it is insufficient. In order to optimize the interaction between the laser technology and the necessary pretreatment, the mechanical precleaning must be synchronized with the laser use. In the renovation of historically listed technical facilities, the preservation of so-called »time windows«, by which remnants of the original coating are preserved as records of the facilities’ origins and history, are considered important.
Project operation
Gemeinde Ilsede
Eichstraße 2
31241 Ilsde
Telefon: 05172|411131
Telefax: 05172|41155131
m.grabsch@ilsede.de
www.ilseder-huette.de
29969
