Characterization of Stainless Steel Welding Fume Particles : Influence of Stainless Steel Grade, Welding Parameters and Particle Size

Abstract: Welding is a widely used method to join two pieces of stainless steel. Since it produces a large amount of fume during the process, it can cause adverse health effects. The welding fume particles contain many elements. Among them Cr, Mn and Ni are of concern. These three elements can cause diseases if inhaled by humans, especially Cr(VI). In this project, welding fume particles are collected during welding of different stainless steel grades (austenitic AISI 304L and duplex LDX2101). Furthermore, different welding types (manual metal arc welding and metal active gas welding), shielding gas (MISON 2, MISON 18 and CORGON 18) and welding electrodes were varied (solid and flux cored wire). The particles were tested by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and atomic absorption spectroscopy. The composition of the particles was measured and the surface chemical speciation estimated. In addition, metal release (Fe, Cr, Mn, and Ni) in phosphate buffered saline solution (pH 7.4, 37℃, 24h) from the particles was tested. Fe, Cr and Mn were found on the surface of the particles and released to different extent in the phosphate buffered saline solution (dominated by Cr).