The automobile industry is developing rapidly today, and the application scale of various mechanical and electronic products is greatly increasing. But these devices require some maintenance before assembly and after a period of operation, including cleaning some materials or components. Traditional cleaning processes such as mechanical friction cleaning, chemical corrosion cleaning, strong impact cleaning, high-frequency ultrasonic cleaning, etc. are very time-consuming, unable to achieve automation, and often have harmful effects on the environment. At the same time, there is no reliable method for measuring cleaning effectiveness. Compared to it, laser cleaning has the advantages of no pollution, no consumables, low cost, high efficiency, no contact, no stress, no damage, good controllability, precision cleaning of optional areas, and the ability to clean hazardous areas that are difficult to reach. It is considered the most reliable and effective way to solve cleaning problems in the future.

Mechanism of action

Laser cleaning is the use of narrow pulse width, high power density laser to act on the surface of the object to be cleaned. Under the combined action of rapid light vibration, vaporization, decomposition, and plasma peeling mechanisms, the dirt is separated from the substrate to achieve surface cleaning. At present, there are three typical laser cleaning methods: laser ablation cleaning, liquid film assisted laser cleaning and laser shock wave cleaning. Among the above three methods, the laser ablation cleaning method has simple operating conditions and is the most widely used. Choosing the appropriate laser type and adopting optimized process parameters can remove various coatings, paints, particles or dirt. Although the other two methods also have their own advantages, their applications are still in the research stage and have not been widely promoted.

Tire mold is an important tool used in the tire production process (vulcanization process). There are some tread patterns (corresponding to the tread pattern of the tire) in the tire mold. Long term use will produce many deposits, such as sulfide, inorganic compound, silicone oil, carbon black, etc. Therefore, regular cleaning is necessary to ensure the cleanliness of its surface.

However, due to the irregular and complex pattern patterns of the mold, the general cleaning method is not in place, and some parts may form contaminated dead corners, thereby affecting the quality of the tire.

At present, the main methods used for cleaning tire molds include mechanical cleaning, chemical cleaning, dry ice cleaning, ultrasonic cleaning, and laser cleaning. In the past decade, laser cleaning has developed rapidly and gradually replaced other cleaning methods in many fields. So, what are the advantages of laser cleaning technology?

Efficient

After laser radiation reaches the surface of the mold, it will be absorbed by the sediment on the mold surface. Under the action of high-temperature energy, the sediment instantly vaporizes and evaporates away from the surface of the object, requiring a very short time. Traditional cleaning methods, such as ultrasonic cleaning, require preheating, cooling, and other processes before cleaning, which requires a long time. For a tire production enterprise with a daily output of thousands, laser cleaning technology is clearly the most efficient.

Reliable

The laser beam can reach areas that are difficult to remove for cleaning, resulting in higher cleanliness. Moreover, laser cleaning is non-contact, and no solvents or substances are added during the cleaning process. Therefore, under appropriate process parameters (optical parameters of the laser), it will not cause damage to the mold. Compared to traditional mechanical cleaning, chemical cleaning and other methods, it is more reliable.

Environment protection

Laser cleaning utilizes high-energy beams of light without the use of any organic solvents, making it pollution-free and noise free, and harmless to human health and the environment. In an environment where various environmental laws and regulations have been implemented and environmental manufacturing is gradually becoming normalized, laser cleaning technology is undoubtedly the most suitable.

With the continuous development and maturity of related supporting equipment and technology, there will be more and more industries applying laser cleaning technology in the future.
 

About HGTECH: HGTECH is the pioneer and leader of laser industrial application in China, and the authoritative provider of global laser processing solutions. We have comprehensively arranged laser intelligent machine, measurement and automation production lines, and smart factory construction to provide overall solutions for intelligent manufacturing.