Project Overview – Mill Scale Removal for Industrial Rubber Lining
Project Overview
Mill Scale Removal for Industrial Rubber Lining
Location: Nisku, Alberta
Sector: Oilsands
Surface Preparation for Rubber Lining
Power Laser Inc. successfully completed a precision surface preparation project on a heavy-duty vibrating screen for a prominent Fort McMurray-based oil sands firm. The goal was to eliminate mill scale to ensure the long-term integrity of a protective rubber lining.
The Challenge: Mill Scale and Bonding Failure
In the oil sands, vibrating screens are subjected to constant abrasion and impact. To protect the structural steel, they are often lined with industrial rubber.
The Problem: Mill scale — the flaky, oxidized layer formed during the hot-rolling of steel — is a primary cause of delamination. If the rubber is applied over mill scale, the lining will eventually peel away as the scale vibrates loose from the base metal.
Legacy Issues: Traditional grit blasting often leaves “profile” issues or embedded dust that can contaminate adhesive layers, leading to premature failure in the field.
The Solution: Targeted Laser Ablation
Power Laser Inc. utilized high-power fiber laser technology to thermally “pop” the mill scale off the structural steel of the vibrating screen.
Molecular Cleanliness: The laser didn’t just remove the scale; it vaporized contaminants at a microscopic level, leaving a chemically clean surface that is ideal for chemical bonding.
Precision and Speed: Unlike manual grinding or blasting, the laser provided a consistent finish across the complex geometry of the screen’s ribs and bolted joints without the need for extensive containment or cleanup.
The Results & Validation
The success of the process was confirmed through rigorous 12-hour adhesive bonding tests.
Test Approval: The adhesive samples applied to the laser-cleaned surfaces passed all pull-strength and durability requirements, proving that laser ablation provides a superior anchor for industrial rubber adhesives.
Field Ready: With the mill scale removed and the bonding approved, the vibrating screen was cleared for rubber application, ensuring a significantly longer service life in the demanding Fort McMurray environment.
REMOVE. RESTORE. REBUILD.
Stop wasting time on outdated cleaning methods.
No chemicals. No damage. No downtime.
Power Laser delivers precision laser cleaning for industrial surfaces — fast, eco-friendly, and powerful enough to handle the toughest jobs.
Rust removal
Paint & coating stripping