Abstract: Protective and residual organic coatings are stripped from a surface by substantially sealing the surface from the atmosphere to provide a stripping zone, forming a stream of gaseous stripping composition in an evaporation zone, contacting the surface with the stripping composition in the gaseous state at about ambient temperature and recirculating the gaseous mixture from the stripping zone to the evaporating zone and back to the stripping zone to rapidly increase the concentration of gaseous stripping composition in the stripping zone. Optionally the surface may be rinsed by raising the temperature of the gaseous stripping composition slightly above ambient temperature, whereby the gaseous stripping composition condenses on the surface and flushes the surface free of adhering particles.

Abstract: Coatings, such as paint or oil, are stripped from the surface of a coated object by circulating a stream of a stripping composition in a gaseous state at ambient temperature and pressure into contact with the surface. The stripping composition is normally a liquid at ambient temperature and pressure and has a partial pressure of at least 5 mm of Hg. at ambient conditions. The contacting procedure is conducted substantially in the absence on the surface of liquid condensate of the stripping composition.

Abstract: Coatings, such as paint or oil, are stripped from the surface of a coated object by circulating a stream of a stripping composition in a gaseous state at ambient temperature and pressure into contact with the surface. The stripping composition is normally a liquid at ambient temperature and pressure and has a partial pressure of at least 5 mm. Hg. at ambient conditions. The contacting procedure is conducted substantially in the absence on the surface of liquid condensate of the stripping composition. Alternatively, contacting is carried out with neither the stripping composition nor the surface being above ambient temperature and with at least one of them being cooled below ambient temperature.