Todd Cottrell is operations and technical manager for Eldorado Chemical, San Antonio, TX. He has 10 years of experience in the chemical coatings removal market, including pioneering non-hazardous coatings removal on aircraft in the late ’90s. He has participated in coatings removal planning for Boeing’s 787 and Airbus’s A380. He can be reached at 913.709.5763 or tcottrell@eldoradochem.com. For more information about coating removal, visit www.eldoradochem.com.
Four basic stripping methods are typically used to remove cured powder coatings: mechanical, thermal, thermomechanical and chemical. Each method has advantages and disadvantages that must be considered in making a selection. Recently, a new chemical process has been developed that offers quick coating removal at ambient temperatures and is safe for workers and the environment.