Abstract: Addition of special thermally decomposable chloro compounds intimately mixed and pelleted or briquetted with a neutral binder material is made to molten neutral salt baths to restore neutrality by converting oxides of the alkali/alkaline earth metals back to chlorides and dispelling the remainder of the compound as a vapor.

Abstract: Paint-coated objects are immersed in a molten salt bath to remove paint therefrom. The bath contains in weight percent: a) about 25-90% of alkali or alkaline earth caustic compounds; b) about 2-10% of an oxidizing agent selected from the group consisting of alkali and alkaline earth metal nitrates, nitrites, molybdates, metasilicates, and vanadates; c) about 5-40% of a surface scum reducing agent selected from the group consistng of alkali and alkaline earth metal sulfates and pyrophosphates; d) 0-60% of diluent salt selected from the group consisting of chloride, carbonate, and fluoride salts.