Studies of laser cleaning and decontamination in liquid and polymerized media

The study highlights the importance of developing new methods for decontaminating surface radioactive contamination caused by the accumulation of substances such as uranium and plutonium on equipment. Pulsed laser cleaning, which is particularly effective in combination with liquid media, is seen as a promising solution. To safely test the technology, preliminary experiments were carried out on model samples of AISI 321 stainless steel contaminated with cerium oxide, and then on real contaminants of uranium and plutonium salts. Different liquids were used to minimize aerosol release and prevent surface overheating: water, acetone, isopropyl alcohol and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution. Laser cleaning in PVA showed high efficiency, removing more than 90 % of the contaminants in a single pass. Optimal laser modes minimized structural changes to the material surface. The PVA reliably fixes contaminants and, after polymerization, is easily removed from the sample as a solid film.