A study of cellulosic/silicate coated welding rods during breakage and cutting: Assessment of environmental and health exposure

Analysis of the particulates eliminated from typical mild steel 6010 welding rods during handling has been undertaken by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with associated energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Upon breaking, the rod coating particles are released in the size range of 1-100 mu m, which include over 60% of the particles that can be transported into the lower bronchial and alveolar regions. The composition of the particles is representative of the component of the flux coating. [GRAPHICS] .