Abstract: A system is provided for decomposing and removing cured coatings of paint or varnish or the like from surfaces by first applying a stripper composition to the surface to be stripped, thereupon applying cover means over the applied stripper composition, permitting the stripper composition to react with and decompose said surface coating and thereupon remove the cover means and decomposed surface coating which has adhered to the cover means. The stripper composition includes an active component selected from the group consisting of alkali earth metals and alkali metals and organic solvents. In a preferred embodiment, the active component is methylene chloride. The cover means include polypropylene fibers and preferably includes pile elements.A method for effecting such paint or varnish removal on a surface is further provided using said system.

Abstract: A stripper system comprises: a stripper composition for treating a surface so as to give removable treatment product for stripping at least a portion of said surface, said composition comprising at least one component chosen from: alkali metal oxides, alkali metal hydroxides, alkali metal carbonates, alkali earth metal oxides, alkali earth metal hydroxides, and alkali earth metal carbonates; and cover means for covering said composition at least a portion of time said composition treats said surface, said cover means being adapted to remove at least a portion of said treatment product when said cover means is moved in at least one direction appropriate for that removal. Preferably, the stripper composition includes sodium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide. Preferably, the cover means is an endless fibre fabric comprising polypropylene fibre and having a pile. The stripper system can be embodied for different applications, e.g. for stripping coatings of cured paint and/or of cured varnish.