US EPA

1238095 

Journal Article 

A study of the chemical structure of particles in the welding fumes of mild and stainless steel 

Minni, E; Gustafsson, TE; Koponen, M; Kalliomaki P-L 

1984 

Yes 

Journal of Aerosol Science
ISSN: 0021-8502
EISSN: 1879-1964 

15 

1 

57-68 

English 

10.1016/0021-8502(84)90056-9 

A study of the chemical surface structure of three types of welding fumes, manual metal arc welding of stainless steel (MMA), metal inert gas welding of stainless steel (MIG/SS), and manual metal arc welding of mild steel (MMA/MS), was conducted. Samples of airborne fumes from MMA/SS, MIG/SS, and MMA/MS welding were collected on membrane fibers. Analytical electron microscopy was used for bulk analysis of the fumes and for particle morphology studies. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used for semiquantitative surface analysis of the fumes and for detecting the oxidation states of the major metals. In addition, surface layers were removed from the particles by ion sputtering and changes in the oxidation states beneath the outermost surface layer were studied. MMA/SS welding fume iron (7439896) consisted mostly of trivalent iron as potassium-fluoroferrate (13815300). Chromium (7440473) existed as potassium-chromate (7789006). Manganese (7439965) occurred in the divalent and trivalent oxidation states, possibly as manganese-oxide (1317357). No major changes in the particles occurred during sputtering. MIG/SS welding fume contained mostly trivalent iron and chromium in iron and nickel (7440020) containing spinels. Manganese was found in the same form as in MMA/SS fume. Nickel was present in divalent and trivalent forms. Some of the particles contained a thin layer of silicon (7440213) containing material. MMA/MS fume particles contained iron as potassium-fluoroferrate on their surfaces and combined with manganese and oxygen deeper inside. The authors conclude that XPS combined with ion sputtering is a valuable tool for characterizing aerosols./BLOOD 

DCN-158375; Welding industry; Metal fumes; Chemical structure; Chemical analysis; Spectrographic analysis; Trace analysis; Laboratory testing; Metal compounds