Patent ID: 7521001

Claim:
A method of treating an inorganic non-metallic surface for the removal of a portion of said surface by scabbling, the method comprising the repeated sequence of steps of irradiating a first discrete location on the surface with a stationary spot of laser light having an average power density of from 30 W/cm 2 to 200 W/cm 2 for a period of from 1 s to 30 s; and then (a) moving the spot of laser light relative to the surface; or (b) moving the surface relative to the spot of laser light, so as to irradiate a second discrete location on the surface in the same manner, said moving of the spot relative to the surface or the surface relative to the spot being intermittent such that the time interval between irradiation of successive discrete locations on the surface by the spot of laser light is between 0.1 s and 2 s.