Removal Tools and Process for LO Materials

This phase-I effort seeks to demonstrate the feasibility of developing a coating removal method based on a novel, environmentally-friendly (chemical-free and energy efficient) technology known as Acoustic Coaxing Induced Microcavitation (ACIM). InACIM-based technologies silent sound is used to create intense energy points (imploding microbubbles) on wetted surfaces. In this project, the precise point-of-use energetics of ACIM-powered microbubbles are applied to the important problem of removingradar absorbing materials (RAM) from aircraft surfaces.This phase-I project will lead to the development of an ACIM activated handheld sonifier for controlled in situ RAM decoating with no damage to the underlying metal/composite substrates. Beyond theRAM removal task, this ACIM-powered tool will function as a universal decoater of broad applicability. ACIM technology uses only silent sound and clean water. ACIM technology has broad applications to semiconductor processing, thin film metrology, andpaper recycling.