TIG FUMES and Aluminum

[albrightree]

Don't know where the oxygen comes from to form the ozone. The base metal and filler?

In your article it states :

The aluminum alloys produce much more visible welding fume (the white smoke that you see) than many other materials. This is especially true in GMAW. It is not as apparent when performing gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) on aluminum. This happens because in GMAW we are transferring metal across the arc. In doing this, a good bit of material evaporates and forms the visible fume. In GTAW the filler wire doesn’t get as hot, so much less material evaporates and creates fume.

I have some good news for you. Although the process produces a lot of white fume, it consists almost entirely of magnesium oxide and aluminum oxide, which are considered to be merely lung irritants. I won’t kid you, both substances will irritate your lungs, so you shouldn’t breathe them if you can avoid it. However, they don’t contain anything that would adversely affect your health long term, unlike fume produced when welding other materials. There is no beryllium in aluminum filler welds, nor is there any manganese, chromium, or nickel.

The surface of the aluminum is really aluminum oxide, so when you weld it the oxygen gets attached to all sorts of things , including other oxygen molecules/atoms. Also, depending on your welder, the HF generator produces an open arc between the points when the HF is on.

That's just my guess.

Ideally I'm looking for the most amount of respiratory protection possible without buying a regulated flow helmet as I'm a hobbyist.

As far as I can tell , the 3M series 6000/7000 half mask with 2097/2297 is the best protection before you get into supplied air respirators. If you follow some of the links I've posted above they explain what the masks may be used for.
I've used the 8210's and 8214's but I find it hard to get a good seal around my nose, and mask interferes with safety glasses .

Just remember to where it on your face where it will do some good, and leave it on until you are in an area with no contamination. Don't take off your mask when you finish grinding/welding/sanding, and your still in the area, especially if others are grinding/welding/sanding .

My approach is "if you can smell it, you probably shouldn't be".

I think this is a good way to explain what is mentioned in the use instructions by 3M.


Stay Safe

[Twisted]

I just picked up a couple Lincoln FGS series air hoods on ebay for cheap. We love the hoods. I think they were $640ea. Much cheaper than a lung or brain transplant and more comfortable than a mask. I have fairly good exhaust in the shop but it's not always easy to keep your head out of the fire.

[vdotmatrix]

I just picked up a couple Lincoln FGS series air hoods on ebay for cheap. We love the hoods. I think they were $640ea. Much cheaper than a lung or brain transplant and more comfortable than a mask. I have fairly good exhaust in the shop but it's not always easy to keep your head out of the fire.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/30426394178...3ABFBMio3hucdf

[vdotmatrix]

Sorry duplicate post….great deal.

[Insaneride]

The ozone or O3 is created when electrical arc rips apart the bond of O2 molecules when lightning strikes. The two single oxygen atoms don't like being single so they bond with O2 molecules to become ozone O3. You could also split three O2 molecules to create two O3 molecules. The Argon in Tig intensifies the weld arc so it must be making more ozone. I noticed ozone when first learning tig. I haven't noticed it in a while and try avoiding it but it never seemed harmful but why chance it.

[SweetMK]

I wear my 3M respirator with 2297 filters even when I come to the computer to post on WeldingWeb

There is a LOT of arcing in the posts on WeldingWeb,, so, I would expect ozone to be created,,
Where do I order new 2297 filters??










`~` `~`

[Oscar]

Don't know where the oxygen comes from to form the ozone. The base metal and filler?

It's the intense ultraviolet light emanating past the argon plume that hits the O2 in the air and ends up producing ozone.

[daddy]

I run a similar fresh air setup when tigging stainless.

[shovelon]

It's the intense ultraviolet light emanating past the argon plume that hits the O2 in the air and ends up producing ozone.

That certainly is plausible. But then why is the ozone so much more prevalent with AC and alum?

[MinnesotaDave]

That certainly is plausible. But then why is the ozone so much more prevalent with AC and alum?

That's an easy one, steel corrodes easier than aluminum.
As a result, the rust, iron oxide, gobbles up that extra oxygen so no o3 is made...aluminum doesn't corrode fast enough to catch the extra oxygen molecules.

[shovelon]

That's an easy one, steel corrodes easier than aluminum.
As a result, the rust, iron oxide, gobbles up that extra oxygen so no o3 is made...aluminum doesn't corrode fast enough to catch the extra oxygen molecules.

[MinnesotaDave]

Lol