Life Cycle Assessment of Surface Preparation Processes Implemented before Thermal Spray

The aim of this paper is to propose a LCA comparison of different surface preparation processes (degreasing + sandblasting, laser ablation and laser texturing) which tend to be used before thermal spray. The SimaPro software was used and the needs of materials, the energy and the corresponding emissions of each process, were converted to impact scores on human health, ecosystems, and resource conservation (fossil and mineral resources) by mean of the Eco-Indicator-99 method. Laser pretreatments processes present a very good environmental behaviour in comparison with degreasing + sandblasting.