A Novel Automated and Controlled Dual Laser Ablation System for Selective Removal of Hard Chrome Plate Navy SBIR FY2010.2 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2010.2 Topic No.: N102-127 Topic Title: A Novel Automated and Controlled Dual Laser Ablation System for Selective Removal of Hard Chrome Plate Proposal No.: N102-127-0912 Firm: AlphaSense, Inc. 470 Century Blvd. Wilmington, Delaware 19808 Contact: Pengcheng Lv Phone: (302) 998-1116 Web Site: www.alphasense.net Abstract: In this proposal, AlphaSense, Inc. (AI) and the University of Michigan (UM) detail the development of a novel automated and controlled dual laser ablation system for selective chrome removal. The key innovations of this proposal include the following: a) The combination of ns- and fs- laser ablation to quickly remove the chrome plate, while minimize the collateral damage to the substrate, b) The use of fs- LIBS to provide process control and feedback, and c) The implementation of a real time pattern recognition algorithm to identify the boundary between the chrome plate and substrate. With such innovations, the merits of the proposed method and its advantages over other techniques are listed below: a) Fast materials removal rate, b) Virtually no collateral damage to the substrate, c) Fully automatic process, and d) Suitable for a wide variety of coatings and substrates. Benefits: The outcome of this research is coupled to a very clear commercialization path. The final product can be used in a wide variety of military and civilian applications. The most straightforward application of the proposed technology is the hard chrome stripping of landing gear components used in Navy repair and overhaul facility. Additionally, the advantages of the proposed process will also benefit JSF engine manufacturers and others, by providing both a more controlled removal of ceramic and metallic coatings, and doing so without introduction of additional waste streams. Future programs requiring these advanced methods include JSF Growth, Navy UCAS, VAATE and LRS initiatives, as well as numerous commercial products. Since it allows fast materials removal and virtually no collateral damage to the bond coat and substrate, it can also be used to produce precise and superior quality cooling holes in the coating. Such a dual laser ablation system can also be used by commercial turbine engine manufacturers for similar purposes. Other than hard chrome plate and TBC, the final product can also be used in other materials and coating system, including primer, adhesive materials and paint. Furthermore, the fs- LIBS spectroscopy to be developed under the current program can reveal materials chemical compositions, and provide a virtually non- invasive method for chemical analysis. Therefore, it can be used in wide areas spanning from airport security and border security application(explosive, biological agent, illicit drug and landmine detection), environmental monitoring (soil contaminations, air or water quality surveillance), industrial processing by materials analysis (mineral resources, impurities, quality control, sorting), biomedical studies (teeth and bones), and art works analysis. The potential market for our proposed system is huge. We estimate that the potential market for the above- mentioned market sectors can easily exceed $100M. Return