Cole Homer, Epstein Seymour, Peace Jon
Alcoa Inc., Pittsburgh, PA 15212-5858, USA.
J Occup Environ Hyg. 2007 Sep;4(9):678-87. doi: 10.1080/15459620701516162.
Fabrication and repair of aluminum components and structures commonly involves the use of electric arc welding. The interaction of the arc and the metal being welded generates ultraviolet radiation, metallic oxides, fumes, and gases. Aluminum is seldom used as the pure metal but is often alloyed with other metals to improve strength and other physical properties. Therefore, the exact composition of any emissions will depend on the welding process and the particular aluminum alloy being welded. To quantify such emissions, The Aluminum Association sponsored several studies to characterize arc welding emissions by the gas metal arc welding (GMAW) and gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) processes for various combinations of base and filler alloys. In all cases, the tests were conducted under conditions that could be found in a production weld shop without forced ventilation. The concentrations of each analyte that a welder could be exposed to were greatly affected by the welding process, the composition of the base and filler alloys, the position of the welder, and the welding helmet. The results obtained can be used by employers to identify and control potential hazards associated with the welding of aluminum alloys and can provide the basis for hazard communication to employees involved in the welding of these alloys.
铝部件和结构的制造与修复通常涉及电弧焊的使用。电弧与被焊接金属之间的相互作用会产生紫外线辐射、金属氧化物、烟雾和气体。铝很少以纯金属形式使用，而是常常与其他金属合金化以提高强度和其他物理性能。因此，任何排放物的确切成分将取决于焊接工艺以及所焊接的特定铝合金。为了量化此类排放，铝协会赞助了多项研究，以表征在气体保护金属极电弧焊（GMAW）和气体保护钨极电弧焊（GTAW）工艺下，针对各种母材和填充合金组合的电弧焊排放情况。在所有情况下，测试都是在没有强制通风的生产焊接车间可能出现的条件下进行的。焊工可能接触到的每种分析物的浓度受到焊接工艺、母材和填充合金的成分、焊工位置以及焊接面罩的极大影响。雇主可以利用所获得的结果来识别和控制与铝合金焊接相关的潜在危害，并可为向从事这些合金焊接工作的员工进行危害告知提供依据。
