EP3600704A1

EP3600704A1 - Device and method for removing a layer from a substrate

Info

Publication number: EP3600704A1
Application number: EP18718515.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Nathalie SENINCK
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-03-29
Filing date: 2018-03-27
Publication date: 2020-02-05
Also published as: WO2018178856A1; MX2019011392A; US20200016634A1; CA3057260A1; WO2018178856A4

Abstract

The invention relates to at least one device (1) and at least one method for removing a layer (22) from a substrate (20) using a pulsed high voltage. For this purpose, at least one plasma burner (2) which operates at atmospheric pressures, a high-voltage source (3), and a supply of process gas (4) are required. The supply of process gas (4) is connected to an inlet (6) of the plasma burner (2) via a gas line (10). The plasma burner (2) has a nozzle (7) through which a plasma jet (8) exits. The high voltage source (3) is designed such that a pulsed high-voltage is applied between the plasma burner (2) and an electrically conductive element (11), said high-voltage reaching a breakdown voltage in the region (29) of the conductive element (11).

Description

Apparatus and method for removing a layer from a substrate

The invention relates to a device for removing a layer from a substrate. In particular, the device comprises a plasma torch operating at atmospheric pressure. For this purpose, a high voltage source with an electrode inside the plasma torch and with a housing of the

Plasma torch connected. A supply for process gas is over one

Gas line connected to an inlet of the plasma torch. The plasma torch has formed a nozzle through which a plasma jet emerges.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for removing a layer from a substrate. In particular, for this purpose, at least one operating at atmospheric pressure plasma torch is provided. A high voltage source is doing with an electrode inside the plasma torch and a housing of the

Plasma torch connected. A supply of process gas is connected via a gas line to an inlet of the plasma torch. About an im

Plasma torch formed nozzle exits a plasma jet from the plasma torch.

The efficient removal of layers, for example, paint layers in the course of maintenance and / or corrosion protection, is an important process that is carried out with a wide range of devices and methods of the prior art.

It is known from the prior art that typically thick layers (> 1/100 mm) are always mechanically first, for example by grinding,

Sand blasting or brushing, and then cleaned up. This creates large amounts of dust and the product surface can be damaged. Another well established method is burning with flame or hot air. Although this does not generate dust, but, according to the composition of the layer, a high emission of harmful fire gases. Even wet chemical processes with aggressive pickling are not dangerous in the application. Remains of the stain can later lead to component corrosion and must be completely removed after the process. Modern methods, such as the laser Cleaning or dry ice blasting (with CO2) are not always applicable and may be very costly. For dry ice blasting, a continuous CO 2 blasting agent supply is required. A disadvantage of

Laser method is that the removal takes place sequentially and in layers from the outer to the inner layer and the removal rate depends very much on the

Absorption coefficient of the ablated materials.

US Pat. No. 8,981,251 B2 discloses an atmospheric one

A pressurized plasma source, a body having a distal end, a blade extending from the distal end and terminating at a blade edge

Plasma generation unit and a plasma outlet associated with the

Plasma generating unit is in communication and positioned at the distal end. The plasma outlet is oriented at a downward angle, generally in the direction of the blade edge, the plasma outlet providing a plasma path directed substantially toward the blade edge. The plasma can be on the

Be directed coating at an interface between the coating and an underlying substrate. Upon impact of the plasma, the blade is moved into contact with the coating at the interface, the blade assisting separation of the coating from the substrate while one or more components of the coating react with energetic species of the plasma.

German Utility Model DE 20 2006 0019 461 U1 discloses a device for removing at least one lacquer layer from one

Substrate surface. In this case, a plasma jet emerging from an orifice of an atmospheric plasma is directed onto the substrate surface. The

Plasma nozzle is housed in a hand-feeding and electrically insulated housing.

An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a device for removing a layer from a substrate, with which the layer removal is particularly efficient, material and environmentally friendly feasible. This object is achieved by a device that the

Features of claim 1 comprises. A further object of the present invention is to provide a method for removing a layer from a substrate, with which the layer removal can be carried out in a particularly efficient, material and environmentally friendly manner.

This object is achieved by a method comprising the features of claim 1 1.

The device according to the invention for removing a layer on a substrate comprises at least one plasma torch operating at atmospheric pressure. A high voltage source is connected to an electrode inside the plasma torch and a housing of the plasma torch. A supply of process gas is connected via a gas line to an inlet of the plasma torch. In the plasma torch, a nozzle is formed, through which a plasma jet emerges. The high voltage source is configured such that a pulsed high voltage is applied between the plasma torch and an electrically conductive element. The pulsed high voltage is dimensioned such that a breakdown voltage in the region of the conductive element is achieved.

In order to effectively remove a layer from a surface of a substrate, in principle the best point of application is the transition between the layer to be removed and the substrate. The device according to the invention has the advantage of being able to "focus" the plasma torch's performance precisely on this transition (inner surface), where the efficiency of the process for the removal of the layer is the highest The interface is so heavily stressed that the layer separates from the surface of the substrate at the interface of the layer to be peeled off.The atmospheric pressure plasma torch, in which the

High voltage source can generate a high voltage swing can

According to the invention are now operated so that it comes in an insulating or poorly conductive layer on a conductive material to an electrical breakdown. As a result, high energy is released at the transition from the insulating layer to the conductive substrate (carrier) in a pulsed manner. For short pulses, a thermomechanical pressure wave is released at the interface and the Layer is blown up in a well-defined area. From an energy point of view, the potential difference across the insulating layer is highest at the time of the electrical breakdown and the swelling of the current, resulting in the highest power output. If the plasma jet (plasma flame or

Arc) operated at a high pulse frequency and rastered over a surface of the layer, very easily contiguous surfaces of the substrate (carrier) can be exposed.

The pulsed high voltage is a unipolar pulse train with a frequency of 10 kHz to 1 MHz. A pulse train with a frequency of 100 kHz is preferred. The electrical breakdown voltage should be reached in the layer.

The high voltage has a maximum amount of the potential related to the potential of the electrically conductive element or the substrate of 1 kV to 100 kV. Preferably, a maximum amount of the high voltage of 10 kV is selected. In one embodiment, the pulsed high voltage has a slope of> 10 ⁶ V / s.

The pulsed high voltage is designed such that each pulse has a capacitively stored pulse energy of 1 mJ to 100mJ. Preferably, the stored pulse energy may have 10mJ.

The process gas used in the device according to the invention can be formed from air, nitrogen, argon, oxygen, hydrogen or a mixture of the gases listed above.

Likewise, according to another embodiment of the invention, a

Supply be provided with a solid powder. The solid powder can be supplied via the gas line to the inlet of the plasma torch. According to one embodiment of the device according to the invention, the inlet of the plasma torch for feeding a process gas or the process gas with the solid powder, which ultimately strikes the surface of the layer, is designed such that the inlet is preferably formed so that the gas flow in a circular vortex in the axis of the plasma torch is impressed. The electrically conductive element of the layer / substrate system may be an electrically conductive substrate, a wedge-shaped and conductive counter-electrode or an auxiliary conductive layer.

According to a possible embodiment of the invention, a suction may be provided between the plasma torch and the layer to be removed. With suction, it can be ensured that erosion products, fragments or the emissions of the layer to be removed without contamination of the

Environment be transported away.

According to a further embodiment, an additional nozzle may be provided for spraying a surface of the layer with an auxiliary fluid. The auxiliary fluid may be a gas or a gas with solid particles or a liquid or a liquid with solid particles. In the event that an electrically insulating or poorly conductive layer is present on the substrate, the auxiliary fluid can be applied to the surface to be cleaned or to the layer to be cleaned. Subsequently, the removal can then be carried out with high-voltage pulses. The auxiliary fluid may consist of an aqueous fluid containing the

Surface of the layer to be removed well wetted and the porous dirt and / or oxide structures well penetrates.

The electrically conductive element may, for. B. in the form of a counter electrode

be designed. The counter electrode can, for. B. be configured in the form of a blade or a scraper. Likewise, brushes can be used to mechanically remove the layer weakened by the breakdown voltage (pulsed high voltage) or the layer residues or to remove them

mechanically support. The electrically conductive element may be formed as a conductive and wedge-shaped counter electrode in the case of a poorly conductive substrate. The counterelectrode is pushed between the layer to be removed and the substrate in order to effect the electrical breakdown in the layer to be detached.

The device according to the invention can be designed as a hand-held device, which together with the possible accessories such. As suction or additional nozzle, are performed on the ablated layer on the substrate can. According to another possible embodiment, several

Devices for removing a layer from a substrate are connected to form an arrangement. The individual devices or plasma torches are mechanically interconnected, so that the arrangement can be performed as a unit on the layer to be removed. With the arrangement, it is thus possible that more extensive surface areas of the ablated layer can be processed. The arrangement of the several of the invention

Devices increases the removal rate. The inventive arrangement, for example, for the removal of oxides on metals such. As rust used.

The electrically conductive element may be a substrate which is itself electrically conductive. In particular, the resistivity may be <100 ohms mm ² / m. The substrate can be at ground potential. The substrate may, for. As a metal or a carbon fiber composite material. The layer to be detached from the substrate can be electrically insulating or electrically poorly conductive. In particular, the specific resistance is preferably> 1000 ohm mm ² / m. The layer to be detached from the substrate may comprise plastic and / or ceramic. The layer to be detached from the substrate may be an adhered film. The layer thickness of the layer to be detached from the substrate is preferably between 10 pm and 1000 pm.

The method of removing a layer from a substrate according to the invention comprises applying a pulsed high voltage. For this purpose, at least one operating at atmospheric pressure plasma torch is provided. A

High voltage source is connected to an electrode inside the plasma torch and to a housing of the plasma torch. A supply for

Process gas is connected via a gas line to an inlet of the plasma torch. A jet of plasma emerges via a nozzle formed in the plasma torch and strikes a surface of the layer to be ablated. For this purpose, between the plasma torch and an electrically conductive element, the z. B. may be a substrate for the ablated layer, a pulsed high voltage applied. The pulsed high voltage achieves a breakdown voltage in the region of the conductive element. The pulsed high voltage is a unipolar one Pulse train with a frequency of 10kHz to 1 MHz. The high voltage has a maximum amount of the potential related to the potential of the electrically conductive element of 1 kV to 100 kV. The pulsed high voltage has a

Slope of> 10 ⁶ V / s. Due to the pulsed high voltage, an electrical breakdown occurs in the region of the conductive element, thus releasing a high energy at the transition from the layer to the substrate in a pulse-like manner. This will be a

released thermomechanical pressure wave at the transition and the layer is thereby freed in a well-defined area. In addition, an exhaust may be provided between the plasma torch and the layer to be removed. The suction has the advantage that the solved by the unipolar pulse train and / or other means or

Freed fragments or emissions of the layer are sucked off.

An auxiliary nozzle may be used to spray a surface of the layer with a

Auxiliary fluid can be provided. The auxiliary fluid can abrasive support a removal of the layer. In one possible embodiment, the auxiliary fluid may

Carry away ablation products of the layer.

To remove a layer from a substrate, a surface of the layer can be scanned according to manually or automatically. The inventive method can according to one of the described

Embodiments for ablating oxides on metals, e.g. Rust can be used.

In the method according to the invention is between the electrode of the

Plasma burner and the layer / substrate system expresses a gas channel with increased free carrier density, in particular, the carrier density>

10 ⁸ / cm ³ . Likewise, a gas channel with a dielectric strength of <1 kV / mm, typically <100V / mm, can be formed between the electrode of the plasma torch and the substrate / layer / substrate system. In the method according to the invention, the average thermal power transferred to the substrate <1000 W / cm ² , but typically <100 W / cm ² , refers to the area freed from the layer.

In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, a conductive auxiliary layer is applied at least to the layer to be removed.

In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, first of all a conductive layer, followed by a predominantly electrically insulating layer, is applied to the layer to be removed.

According to the method according to the invention, an area of 0.01 mm ² to 1 mm ² , but typically 0.1 mm ² , of the layer is removed per high-voltage pulse.

Further advantages and advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the following figures and their associated parts description.

They show in detail:

1 shows an apparatus for removing a layer from a substrate

Application of a pulsed high voltage according to a possible embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 shows another possible embodiment of the invention

Apparatus wherein fragments of the layer to be ablated are aspirated;

Figure 3 shows another possible embodiment of the invention

Device, in addition to gas (process gas) and solids are used, which hit the substrate surface;

Figure 4 shows another possible embodiment of the invention

Device, wherein a fluid for cooling, in support of the

Abtragung and / or used for applying an auxiliary layer is used; FIG. 5A shows an initial situation of a process sequence for removing a porous layer (rust or surface contamination) from a substrate;

FIG. 5B shows a process step in which the porous layer is impregnated with fluid; FIG. 5C shows a process step in which high-voltage pulses are applied to the

Layer system acts;

FIG. 5D shows a final situation of the process sequence during ablation

cleaned surface of the substrate comes to light;

FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, wherein a conductive auxiliary layer is applied to the layer / substrate system in order to detach the layer by means of thermo-mechanical shock waves;

FIG. 7 shows an additional embodiment of the device according to the invention, wherein a blade or a wedge-shaped counterelectrode is introduced and advanced to the point of removal;

Figure 8A is a photograph of a distance of 500pm

Lacquer layer of aluminum on a test section of 32x24mm ² ;

Figure 8B is an enlarged photograph of the area marked "B" in Figure 8A; Figure 9 is a photograph showing a carbon fiber reinforced

Plastic shows, from which a 500pm thick lacquer layer was removed without damaging the fibers; and

Figure 10 is a schematic representation of several plasma torches, the

are interconnected to treat larger areas of a substrate can.

The illustrated embodiments represent only possibilities, such as a device according to the invention and a method according to the invention for Removing a layer can be configured by a substrate,

or the disclosed features can be combined.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the device 1 according to the invention for removing a layer 22 from a substrate 20. The device 1 comprises an atmospheric-pressure plasma torch 2, which is provided with a

High voltage source 3 is connected. The high voltage source 3 generates a unipolar pulse train 12 of pulses 13, which is applied to an electrode 5 in the interior of a housing 9 of the plasma torch 2. Likewise, the

High voltage source 3 connected to a housing 9 of the plasma torch 2. A supply for process gas 4 is connected via a gas line 10 to an inlet 6 of the plasma burner 2. This process gas 4 is passed into the interior of the plasma torch. The conductive substrate 20 (electrically conductive element 11) described in this embodiment is at ground potential. The basic structure of the device described in FIG. 1 is identical to that of FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 and will not be described repetitively for reasons of clarity of the description. Only the differences between the individual embodiments will be described.

The plasma torch 2 has a nozzle 7 through which a plasma jet 8 emerges and is directed onto the substrate 20 or onto the surface 23 of the layer 22 to be removed, the substrate 20 carrying the layer 22 to be removed. The voltage applied to the electrode 5 high voltage is chosen such that by means of the exiting plasma jet 8 to an electrically conductive element 1 1 a pulsed high voltage is applied, which reaches a breakdown voltage in a region 29 of the conductive element 1 1. In the case described here

In the exemplary embodiment, the electrically conductive element 11 is the substrate 20, so that the breakdown voltage is reached at a transition 24 from the layer 22 to be removed to the substrate 20.

In the plasma torch 2 used in the device 1, the

High voltage source 3 generate a high voltage swing. The

High voltage source 3 according to the invention can now be operated so that in the insulating or poorly conductive layer 22 on the conductive substrate 20 (conductive element 1 1) comes to an electrical breakdown, the pulse-like one Releases energy at the junction 24 from the insulating layer 22 to the conductive substrate 20. For short pulses, a thermo-mechanical pressure wave 27 is released at the transition 24. This causes layer 22 to become in one

well-defined area 29 fragments 25 or emissions of the layer 22 is blasted. Energetically, at the time of the electrical breakdown and the swelling of the current, the potential difference across the insulating layer 22 is highest. Consequently, it comes here to the highest

Power output. If the plasma jet 8 (or the arc) is operated at a high pulse frequency and is scanned over the surface 23 of the layer 22, areas which are very slightly connected can be freed from the layer 22 and thus exposed.

Figure 2 shows another possible embodiment of the invention

Device 1. The structure of the device is essentially identical to the structure described in Figure 1 and need not be described in detail here. It is provided with a suction 15, with which the

Fragments 25 or emissions of the layer 22 can be sucked out of the well-defined region 29. The fragments 25 or emissions of the layer 22 result from the fact that the electrical breakdown is generated at the transition 24 by the plasma jet 8 impinging on the layer 22, which releases energy in the manner of a pulse.

FIG. 3 shows a further possible embodiment of the device 1 according to the invention, wherein in addition to the process gas 4, a solid 14 can also be brought through the inlet 6 into the interior of the plasma burner 2. The mixture of process gas 4 and solid 14 reaches the surface 23 of the layer 22 via the plasma jet 8. The enriched particles of the solid 14 can serve to support the removal of the layer 22.

FIG. 4 shows a further possible embodiment of the device 1 according to the invention. The surface 23 of the layer 22 to be removed is one

Additional nozzle 17 assigned. Via the additional nozzle 17, the surface 23 of the layer 22, an auxiliary fluid 18 is supplied and cooling can be achieved. The auxiliary fluid 18 serves to assist the removal, to remove dissolved Fragments of the layer 22 and for applying an auxiliary layer (not shown here).

Figures 5A to 5D show schematically the different stages in the

Removal of a layer 22 (porous corrosion and impurity structure) from a substrate 20. As can be seen in Figure 5A, the layer 22 to be stripped is a porous corrosion and impurity structure which typically has dielectric properties. FIG. 5B shows the situation that the

to be peeled layer 22 is impregnated with an auxiliary fluid 18. The auxiliary fluid 18 wets the surface 23 well and penetrates into the electrically insulating or poorly conductive layer 22. FIG. 5C shows the situation that the plasma jet 8 strikes the layer 22, so that an electrical breakdown 30 occurs in the region of the transition 24. The electrical breakdown 30 releases energy at the transition 24 of the layer 22 to the conductive substrate 20 in a pulse-like manner. FIG. 5D shows the result of the application of the plasma jet 8 to the layer 22 of the conductive substrate 20. In a flat region F, the layer 22 is detached from the substrate 20 and the transition 24 is freely accessible.

FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of the device 1 according to the invention, wherein a conductive auxiliary layer 28 is applied to the layer / substrate system 21

is applied. On the auxiliary layer 28 acts from the nozzle 7 of the

Plasma torch 2 exiting plasma jet 8 a. Thermomechanical shock waves 27 are thereby formed in the auxiliary layer 28, which can detach the layer 22 from the substrate 20.

FIG. 7 shows a further embodiment of the device 1 according to the invention in which a wedge-shaped counterelectrode 16 is used as the electrically conductive element 11. The wedge-shaped counter electrode 16 and the electrode 5 of the

Plasma torch 2 are connected to the high voltage source 3. The conductive wedge-shaped counter electrode 16 is slid between the layer 22 to be removed and the substrate 20. On the conductive and wedge-shaped counter electrode 16 of the plasma jet 8 of the plasma torch and the electrical breakdown 30 is effected in the layer to be detached 22. The counter electrode 16 or, if that

Substrate 20 is not conductive, the blade can be moved with a feed V. to mechanically contribute to the support of layer 22 erosion.

Figure 8A shows a photograph of a removal of a 500pm resist layer of aluminum (substrate) on a test section of 32x24mm2. Figure 8B shows an enlarged photograph of the area marked "B" in Figure 8A. It can be clearly seen from FIGS. 8A and 8B that with the device according to the invention a detachment of the layer 22 from a substrate 20 is possible.

FIG. 9 shows a photograph of a carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic 40, from which a 500 pm thick lacquer layer has been removed without damaging the plastic 40 or its fibers.

FIG. 10 shows a schematic representation of a plurality of plasma torches 2 which are connected together in order to be able to treat larger areas of a layer / substrate system 21. Each of the rigidly connected plasma torch 2 is connected to the high voltage source 3. Likewise, each plasma torch 2, the process gas 4 can be supplied via a gas line 10. The plasma jet 8 emerging from each plasma torch 2 strikes the layer / substrate system 21. The plurality of plasma torches 2 can be guided over the surface 23 by the layer 22 to be detached from the substrate 20. The invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications of the invention may be made without departing from the scope of the invention

to leave the following claims. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 device

2 plasma torches

3 high voltage source

4 process gas

5 electrode

6 inlet

7 nozzle

8 plasma jet

9 housing

10 gas line

1 1 electrically conductive element

12 unipolar pulse train

13 pulse

14 Festsoff

15 suction

16 wedge-shaped counterelectrode

17 additional nozzle

18 auxiliary fluid

20 substrate

21 Schich substrate system

22 shift

23 Surface of the layer

24 transition

25 fragment

26 conductive counter electrode 27 thermo-mechanical pressure wave / shock wave

28 auxiliary layer

29 area

30 electrical breakdown

40 carbon fiber reinforced plastic

100 arrangement

B area

V feed

Claims

claims:

A device (1) for removing a layer (22) on a substrate (20),

full:

at least one atmospheric pressure plasma torch (2); a high voltage source (3) connected to an electrode (5) inside the

Plasma torch (2) and connected to a housing (9) of the plasma torch (2); a supply of process gas (4) connected via a gas line (10) to an inlet (6) of the plasma burner (2); a nozzle (7) formed in the plasma torch (2), through which a plasma jet (8) emerges, characterized in that the high voltage source (3) is designed such that between the plasma torch (2) and an electrically conductive element (11) a pulsed high voltage is applied, the one

Breakdown voltage in the region (29) of the conductive element (1 1) reached.

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the pulsed high voltage a

unipolar pulse train (12) with a frequency of 10 kHz to 1 MHz and / or the high voltage has a maximum amount of the potential, based on the potential of the electrically conductive element (1 1), from 1 kV to 100 kV and / or the pulsed high voltage edge steepness of> 10 ⁶ V / s.

3. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pulsed high voltage is designed such that each pulse (13) has a capacitive

has stored pulse energy of 1 mJ to 100mJ.

4. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the

Process gas (4) from air, nitrogen, argon, oxygen, hydrogen or a mixture of the aforementioned gases is formed. 5. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a

Supply for a solid powder (14) is provided, which connect fluidly with the gas line (10).

6. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrically conductive element (1 1) is an electrically conductive substrate (20), a wedge-shaped and conductive counter-electrode (26) or a conductive auxiliary layer (28). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a

Extraction (15) between the plasma torch (2) and the layer to be removed (22) is provided.

Apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein an auxiliary nozzle (17) is associated with an auxiliary fluid (18) for spraying a surface (23) of said layer (22), said auxiliary fluid (18) being a gas or a gas Gas with solid particles or a liquid or a liquid with solid particles is.

Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the

Device (1) is designed as a hand-held device.

Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of devices (1) for removing a layer (22) from a substrate (20) to an assembly (100) are interconnected.

A method of removing a layer (22) from a substrate (20), wherein at least one atmospheric pressure plasma torch (2) is provided; wherein a high voltage source (3), with an electrode (5) inside the plasma torch (2) and with a housing (9) of the

Plasma torch (2) is connected; wherein a supply of process gas (4) via a gas line (10) with an inlet (6) of the plasma torch (2) is connected and wherein a plasma jet (8) via a plasma torch (2) formed nozzle (8) emerges characterized through the following steps:

• that a pulsed high voltage is applied between the plasma torch (2) and an electrically conductive element (1 1), so that a breakdown voltage in the region of the conductive element (1 1) is achieved, and

• that the pulsed high voltage is a unipolar pulse train (12) with a frequency of 10 kHz to 1 MHz, and / or the high voltage has a maximum amount of the potential related to the potential of the electrically conductive element (1 1) of 1 kV to 100 kV; and / or the pulsed high voltage has a slope of> 10 ⁶ V / s.

12. The method of claim 1 1, wherein in the region of the conductive element (1 1) an electrical breakdown is formed, is released via the pulse of a high energy at the transition (24) of the layer (22) to the substrate (20), wherein a Released thermomechanical pressure wave at the transition (24) and the layer (22) is thereby burst in a well-defined area (29).

13. The method of claim 12, wherein an exhaust (15) between the

Plasma torch (2) and the layer to be removed (22) is provided, are sucked by the unipolar pulse train (12) and / or other means dissolved or freed fragments (25) of the layer (22). 14. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 13, wherein an additional nozzle (17) for spraying a surface (23) of the layer (22) with an auxiliary fluid (18) is provided, wherein the auxiliary fluid (18) a removal of the layer (22 ) abrasive.

15. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 11 to 14, wherein for removing a layer (22) from a substrate (20) a surface (23) of the layer (22) is scanned.