Keynoted Speaker

Prof. Szymon Tofil

Kielce University of Technology 

E-mail: L.Wang@mail.sic.ac.cn

Title: Laser Cleaning of Paint Coating from Aluminum Alloys and Composites as a Base Material.

Profile:

EngD Tofil is an assistant professor at the Faculty of Mechatronics and Mechanical Engineering, Kielce University of Technology, and a co-founder of the Cleanmatik startup. His research focuses on laser micromachining with applications in advanced manufacturing and photovoltaic panel recycling. He has led and contributed to national and international R&D projects supported by the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR), LIDER, Erasmus+, PIOR, and the Applied Research Programme. Dr. Tofil has authored 31 publications in peer-reviewed international journals and holds 8 patents. He actively presents his work at scientific conferences in Europe and Asia, including events in Poland, the Slovak Republic, the Czech Republic, Romania, South Korea, India, and China.

Abstract:

This paper presents a comparative study on laser cleaning of paint coatings from aluminum alloys and composite substrates using different pulsed laser systems. The research aimed to determine optimal treatment parameters by varying the laser beam power density. Two laser sources were employed: the TruMicro 5325c (343 nm, UV) and the SPI G3.1 SP40P (near-infrared). Samples with various technological coatings underwent multiple laser treatment variants, differing in pulse energy and number of pulses.

Surface characterization was conducted using a Hirox KH-8700 digital microscope and a JEOL JSM-7100F scanning electron microscope (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) for micro-area chemical composition analysis. The cleaned surfaces showed no evidence of melting; only coating removal effects were observed. A high degree of surface cleanliness was achieved after treatment. For thick coatings, repeated passes or the use of a higher average power laser is recommended to enhance cleaning efficiency.