Abstract: A laser beam which is caused to impinge upon and evaporate rust and/or other oxidation products from the surface of a metallic object is reflected by the exposed surface upon evaporation of impurities and the intensity of the reflected beam is monitored by a detector whose signals are utilized to vary the intensity of the impinging beam, to vary the area of the spot where the beam impinges upon the object and/or to effect relative movements between the impinging beam and the object.

Abstract: Rust is removed from the surfaces of metallic objects by focusing a laser beam on successive increments of the surface so that the beam causes evaporation of rust. The laser is a gas laser and is designed to effect pulsed emission of coherent radiation. The output power of the laser is selected in such a way that the beam cannot melt or evaporate the parent metal.