Plasma Cleaning vs Laser Cleaning: Which one should you choose?

In every industry time is money, and you don’t want to waste hours cleaning equipment – and that means when it comes to industrial cleaning solutions, it is important to minimise turnaround and maximise turnover. On the other hand, cutting corners when it comes to industrial cleaning is going to hurt your bottom line as well in the long run.

That’s why choosing the right cleaning technique is important. When it comes to cleaning, the current stars are plasma cleaning and laser cleaning. These high-tech solutions can tackle dirt and grime with precision and efficiency.

Plasma Cleaning uses low-pressure plasma to zap away organic contaminants like oils, grease, and bacteria, while Laser Cleaning uses high-intensity laser beams to vaporise inorganic contaminants such as rust, oxides, and coatings. Both methods have their strengths, and choosing the right one depends on your specific needs.

So, let’s break it down! We’ll take you through a category-by-category comparison of the two, so you can make an informed decision.

Type of contaminant

Laser cleaning is suited for removing inorganic contaminants, such as rust, oxides, and coatings, while plasma cleaning is better at removing organic contaminants, such as oils, grease, and bacteria.

Methodology

Laser cleaning uses light to remove contaminants. Plasma cleaning uses ionised plasma gas. Also, laser cleaning can be used to both clean and roughen surfaces, which is important for applications like adhesive bonding. Plasma cleaning can only be used to remove contaminants.

Speed

For laser cleaning, ultra-fast rotating mirrors are used to direct laser light (and we all know the speed of light). In plasma cleaning a nozzle moves above the surface to be cleaned using a gantry system, which is relatively slower than light. Laser cleaning is going to get the job done in the shortest possible time. The entire environment doesn’t have to be completely shielded or cleaned. And you will be back in production quickly.

Hygiene

Laser cleaning ensures that most of the pollutants are vapourised and whatever remains just falls to the ground making cleaning easy. During laser cleaning, there is an intense heating that takes place and this has an anti-bacterial effect. So, double clean!

Cleaning quality

With laser cleaning, contaminants are vapourised, leaving almost nothing behind on the surface. Plasma cleaning on the other hand, though effective, can sometimes leave behind carbonised residues that are difficult to remove

Versatility

Laser cleaning is very efficient and allows the cleaning of different types of dirt such as paint, coatings, accumulated grease, dirt, and corrosion, among others.

Plasma cleaning can be used to clean all types of surfaces, including plastics, metals, and ceramics. It is mostly used to remove organic contaminants like oil, dust, electrolyte, and paint. It is less efficient at removing rust and oxides.

Application

Laser cleaning is used in several industries:

• Aerospace (engine parts and airframes to improve performance)
• Automotive (to clean gears and bearings to improve efficiency)
• Medical device industry (medical instruments such as scalpels to improve safety standards)
• Cultural heritage (historical artifacts such as sculptures and paintings are restored without damage)
• Food processing (to remove contaminants in processing equipment such as conveyor belts)

Plasma cleaning is used in:

• Medical device (clean surgical instruments and implants to ensure safety)
• Semiconductor (to remove organic contaminants such as photoresist residue and polymers)
• Aerospace (to clean turbine blades)
• Automotive (to clean fuel injectors and valves to reduce emissions)
• Optical (lenses and mirrors to ensure accuracy)
• Packaging (for plastic and glass bottles to prevent contamination)

Overall, the choice between plasma cleaning and laser cleaning depends on industry, application, and type of contaminant. But you don’t have the make the decision alone. Our experts at Blue Star E&E can help you choose what’s best for your industry. Give us a call today!