Proceedings Article | 26 April 2007
KEYWORDS: Laser marking, Laser ablation, Q switching, Gas lasers, Chemical lasers, High power lasers, Infrared radiation, Ultraviolet radiation, Solar radiation, Nd:YAG lasers
Industries nowadays continuously produce new types of inks for markers and pens, so new different graffiti appear . In
this paper laser cleaning tests on 41 new marker and pen types ( fluorescent, permanent, water-based, acrylic tempera,
metallic paint, waterproof inks ), applied into laboratory on different litho- type samples (Chianca, Travertino di Roma,
Tufo Carparo fine grain, Sabbie), typical stones employed in much more monuments in Puglia and Italian architectures
were carried out. The same ones, were exposed for twelve months to outdoor ageing, subject to sunshine, rain, wind,
IR and UV solar radiations. Ablation experiments and tests by using different cleaning techniques, each one in Dry and
Wet condition (classic technique, Daurelio technique 1 and Daurelio technique 2 and others new techniques) and two
different Nd:YAG laser systems (Palladio by QUANTA SYSTEM and SMART CLEAN II by EL.EN.), were adopted.
The experimental modes, N-Mode (1064nm - 150, 300 and 500 &mgr;s pulse duration), Q-Switch (1064nm - 8 ns pulse
duration) and SFR (Short Free Running - 1064 nm - 40 to 110&mgr;s pulse duration) were tested on each marked stones.
It was found that according to the different ink types and stone substrate, Q-Switch laser cleaning ablation with optimized
laser technique are the best solution to marker an pen graffiti removal. The work is still in progress.
