I. Core Principles
Water Jet Impact Force: ? The core principle involves pressurizing ordinary tap water to extremely high pressures (typically 1000 bar / 15,000 psi to 2500 bar / 36,000 psi or even higher). This high-pressure water forms a high-speed, concentrated water jet through a specially designed nozzle.
Coating Removal:
Impact Crushing: ? The high-pressure water jet impacts the coating surface with extremely high kinetic energy. The immense pressure generated instantly destroys the bond between the coating and the substrate, causing the coating to fracture and peel off.
Water Wedge Effect: ? Water is permeable. High-pressure water quickly penetrates into aged micro-cracks in the coating itself, and into tiny gaps or delaminations between the coating and the substrate. The water expands in these gaps, creating a "wedge-like" effect that "pries" the coating off the substrate.
Substrate Protection: ? Water is far less compressible than air (used in sandblasting). When the water stream impacts a hard substrate (such as steel), the energy dissipates quickly, preventing significant damage to the substrate itself (such as deformation or stress points). This is a major advantage over dry sandblasting.
II. Key Equipment Components
High-Pressure Pump: ? The "heart" of the system. Typically a plunger pump or booster, pressurizing water to the required working pressure. The pressure range is selectable depending on application needs.
Power Source: ? A diesel engine or high-power electric motor provides power to the high-pressure pump.
Water Supply System: ? Includes a water tank, pre-filter (removes large particles, protecting the pump and nozzle), and a supply pump (ensures stable water supply). Water quality requirements are relatively low; ordinary tap water is sufficient, but filtration is important.
High-Pressure Piping and Hoses: ? Steel pipes and flexible hoses that withstand ultra-high pressure (typically 2-4 times the working pressure), conveying high-pressure water from the pump to the spray gun.
Spray Gun and Nozzle:
Spray Gun: ? A control device held by the operator or mounted on a robotic arm, with a valve to control the water flow.
Nozzle: ? One of the most critical components, usually made of hard alloy (such as tungsten carbide) or sapphire, and is extremely wear-resistant. The nozzle's aperture and shape (fan-shaped, conical, rotating) directly affect the shape, impact force, and coverage area of the water jet.
Water Collection and Recycling System (typically used in conjunction):
Vacuum Recovery Device: ? A powerful industrial vacuum cleaner or vacuum system used to immediately suction away removed paint waste, water, and debris.
Water Treatment Unit: ? Filters (removes solid particles), separates (oil-water separation, if oily paint is involved), settles, and even purifies the recovered wastewater to meet discharge standards or for recycling. This is key to environmentally friendly operation.
Personal Protective Equipment: ? Absolutely necessary! Includes waterproof high-pressure protective clothing, helmet, face shield, anti-slip waterproof gloves, waterproof boots, and hearing protection. High-pressure water is lethally dangerous!
III. Main Operating Modes
Pure Water Jet: ? Uses only ultra-high-pressure water. Suitable for removing relatively loose coatings, emulsion paints, water-based paints, or light rust. Causes minimal substrate damage.
IV. Core Advantages
Environmental Friendliness:
No Dust Pollution: ? Compared to dry sandblasting, it completely eliminates the serious hazards of silica dust, heavy metal dust, etc., to operators and the environment, complying with the strictest environmental regulations.
No Chemical Solvents: ? No toxic or harmful chemical paint strippers are needed, avoiding VOC emissions and waste liquid disposal problems.
Wastewater Can Be Treated and Recycled: ? The accompanying recycling system allows for the collection, treatment, and largely recycling of wastewater, reducing water consumption and wastewater discharge.
Waste Material Is Easy to Handle: ? The removed paint waste is mainly wet solid debris, smaller in volume than sandblasting waste, and easier to collect and handle (usually considered non-hazardous waste, but local regulations should be confirmed).
Good Substrate Protection:
Does not cause impact damage, deformation, or stress concentration points on metal substrates (steel, aluminum), concrete, or composite materials.
Does not alter the hardness or microstructure of the metal surface.
Strong selective removal capability; it can remove only the coating without damaging the underlying intact primer or substrate.
Efficiency:
Modern high-pressure water equipment is powerful, and the cleaning speed is usually faster than traditional methods, especially for large-area operations.
Can simultaneously remove multiple layers of coatings, rust, and dirt.
High Surface Treatment Quality:
Thoroughly removes coatings and contaminants, achieving a high cleanliness standard.
Produces a clean, rough but uniformly contoured surface (anchor pattern), which is very beneficial for the adhesion of new coatings. Roughness can be precisely controlled through pressure, flow rate, nozzle type, angle, and travel speed.
Multifunctionality: ? By adjusting pressure, flow rate, nozzle, and whether or not abrasives are added, it can adapt to various needs, from fine cleaning (such as aircraft skin paint removal) to heavy rust and paint removal (such as ships, storage tanks, and steel structures).
Improved Safety (Compared to Sandblasting): ? Eliminates the risk of dust explosions and occupational diseases such as silicosis (pure water mode).
Accessibility: ? The equipment is relatively flexible and can be used for cleaning in narrow spaces and complex structures (such as ship compartments and bridge trusses).
V. Typical Application Areas
Ships and Marine Engineering: ? Hull, deck, ballast tank, cargo hold paint and rust removal (main application area).
Aerospace: ? Aircraft fuselage and component paint removal, with extremely high requirements for substrate protection.
Petrochemicals: ? Storage tanks (internal and external), pipelines, reactors, platform steel structure paint removal and corrosion protection maintenance.
Power Industry: ? Transmission towers, transformer casings, nuclear power facility maintenance.
Bridges and Infrastructure: ? Steel structure bridges, concrete bridge surface treatment.
Manufacturing: ? Overhaul and paint removal of large machinery and equipment.
Rail Transit: ? Locomotive and rolling stock paint removal and refurbishment.
Building Renovation: ? Cleaning of historical building facades and concrete structure surfaces.
VI. Key Operating Parameters and Influencing Factors
Working Pressure: ? The most core parameter. Directly affects stripping ability and efficiency. Needs to be selected according to coating type, thickness, and substrate strength. The range is usually 1000-2500 bar.
Water Flow Rate: ? The amount of water sprayed per unit time (liters/minute). High flow rate can provide greater total impact energy and improve efficiency, especially in pure water mode. Flow rate and pressure need to be matched.
Nozzle Type and Aperture:
Fan nozzle: Large coverage area, high efficiency, suitable for flat surfaces.
Rotary nozzle: More uniform coverage, suitable for complex surfaces, slightly lower efficiency.
Cone nozzle: More concentrated impact force.
Aperture: Affects the jet diameter and impact force intensity. Small aperture has stronger impact force but narrow coverage.
Spray Angle and Distance:
Angle: Usually 90-degree vertical impact has the strongest stripping effect, but in actual operation, it will be adjusted according to the surface condition and efficiency (such as 30-85 degrees).
Distance: The distance between the nozzle and the workpiece surface. Too close may damage the substrate or cause serious rebound, too far will result in large energy loss and low efficiency. Needs to be optimized according to pressure and nozzle.
Travel Speed: ? The moving speed of the spray gun. Needs to match the stripping effect, too fast will not clean thoroughly, too slow will result in low efficiency and may damage the substrate.
Water Purity/Abrasives (If Used): ? Water quality affects the life of the pump and nozzle. The type, particle size, and flow rate of abrasives affect the cutting efficiency and surface profile.
VII. Safety Regulations (Very Important!)
Strict Training: ? All operators must receive comprehensive and qualified safety and operational training.
Full Set of Protective Equipment: ? During operation, certified waterproof high-pressure protective clothing, helmet mask, gloves, boots must be worn, and there should be no exposed skin.
Maintain a Safe Distance: ? It is strictly forbidden to point the spray gun at oneself, others, or equipment. Define the operating restricted area.
Equipment Inspection: ? Carefully inspect all high-pressure pipelines, joints, spray guns, and nozzles for wear or leaks before operation. Use safety ropes and other explosion-proof devices.
Pressure Test: ? Start the equipment at low pressure and confirm that there is no leakage before gradually increasing the pressure.
Do Not Touch the Jet with Your Body: ? Even with gloves on, it is absolutely forbidden to test or block the jet with your hands!
Lockout/Tagout: ? Strict energy isolation procedures must be followed when maintaining equipment.
Summary
High-pressure water paint removal technology, with its high efficiency, environmental friendliness (dust-free and non-toxic), substrate-friendly, and excellent surface treatment quality core advantages, has been widely used in industrial corrosion protection, maintenance, and renovation, especially in situations with strict requirements for environmental protection and substrate protection. However, its high equipment cost, strict safety requirements (high-pressure danger!), and water management needs are also factors that must be fully considered during implementation. With continuous technological advancements (such as pressure increase, equipment intelligence, and recycling efficiency optimization) and increasingly stringent environmental regulations, the application prospects of high-pressure water paint removal technology will be even broader. Safety is always the top priority!
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