Abstract
We attempted to melt and decompose asbestos in asbestos-containing slate panels solely by laser irradiation using compact laser irradiation equipment while varying the laser output (50 W), the number of pulses per inch (ppi) and the travel speed of the laser beam window. We found that slate panels could be decomposed and melted, even with the compact equipment, by irradiating both sides of the slates. No specific elements evaporated selectively during the melting. No asbestos-derived fiber was found in the molten material zone.
