Patent ID: 8066819

Claim:
An improved method for partially or completely removing organic coatings, films, layers or residues from a substrate, said method comprising: (1) subjecting said substrate with said organic material thereon to a vapor consisting essentially of water-free gaseous sulfur trioxide for a period of time to at least partially react said organic material with said sulfur trioxide, said substrates being maintained at a temperature in said range from about room temperature to 400° C.; and (2) subjecting said substrate to a solvent rinse to at least partially remove said reacted organic material; wherein said improvement comprises said following steps: (a) providing said substrate with said organic material thereon; (b) subjecting said substrate of step (a) to a precursor chemical or physical treatment prior to step (1) capable of facilitating said reaction of said sulfur trioxide with said organic material to be removed; (c) carrying out said step (1) so that said water-free, gaseous sulfur trioxide reacts with said organic material to form reacted and unreacted organic matter; (d) optionally, subjecting said organic coatings, films, layers or residues to a pre-rinse chemical or physical treatment; (e) carrying out said step (2) to remove said reacted and unreacted organic matter from said substrate; and (f) subjecting said substrate to a chemical or physical post-rinse treatment subsequent to step (2) capable of removing any residual organic matter from said substrates remaining after said solvent rinse.