(New Scientist Magazine - December 14, 2006) - As a researcher on Ronald Reagan's abortive "Star Wars" anti-ballistic missile programme in the 1980s, Ray Schaefer had to learn all about how laser beams interact
with surfaces. Now he is applying his extensive knowledge to a very different task: making old houses safe for children.
Instead of trying to blast holes in Soviet missiles, powerful pulses from a new type of light source Schaefer has developed can vaporise lead paint that might
poison incautious youngsters.
Once widely used in housing, lead paint is now banned in most countries because
of its toxicity. However, it is still be found in the US in many houses built
before 1978, putting children at risk of ingesting lead from dust and by chewing
painted objects. Removing paint by scraping or by dipping items in paint remover
is costly, time-consuming and creates extra contamination risks.
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Project
Abstract for SBIR Contract 68D03046: Paint Removal From Architectural
Surfaces With an Innovative Pulsed Light Source
