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- Risk assessment of welding operations and processes in terms of ultrafine particles emissionsPublication . Gomes, João; Miranda, Rosa M.; Esteves, Helder M.; Albuquerque, PaulaWelding is extensively used in metallic construction worldwide, in spite of being able to produce dangerous fumes that may be hazardous to the welder’s health. It is estimated that, presently, 1-2% of workers from different professional backgrounds (which accounts for more than 3 million persons) are subject to welding fume and gas action. Recently, studies have proved the existence of ultrafine particle emissions, from welding processes, thus increasing the health risks to exposed welders. In particular, it was found that the amount of emitted particles (measured by particle number and alveolar deposited surface area) is clearly dependent on the distance to the welding front, and also on the main welding parameters, namely the applied current intensity, heat input, nature of base metal, nature of addition metal, and nature of welding gases used. The emission of airborne ultrafine particles increases with the increase of current intensity as the fume-formation rate does. In regards to welding gas mixtures, higher emissions are observed for more oxidant mixtures, that is, mixtures with a higher CO2 content, which result in higher electric arc stability. These mixtures originate higher concentrations of ultrafine particles (as measured by the number of particles per cm3 of air) and higher values of the alveolar deposited surface area of particles, thus resulting in more severe worker exposure. Combining the obtained data, it is possible to compare different welding processes and operating conditions, in order to assess different levels of welder’s exposure. Also, the graphical representation of measured concentrations of airborne ultrafine particles, with time and distance, allows us to define “safe” and “critical” regions within a welding workshop in terms of welder exposure. This information may be combined with the results of risk analysis derived by control banding and helps to categorize the sites where regulatory measures such as operation containment or dedicated exhaust ventilation need to be implemented.
- Experimental characterization of nanoparticles emissions during Laser Shock Processing of AA6061, AISI304 and Ti6Al4VPublication . Gomes, João; Miranda, Rosa M.; Porro, Juan A.; Ocana, José L.This paper describes an experimental study on the emission of nanometric size particles during laser shock processing of metallic materials: stainless steel, aluminum and titanium alloys which are the most common ones processed by this technique. The emission of nanometric size particles was confirmed to consist of aggregates composed of smaller spherical particles in the range of 10-20 nm, covered by a small concentric "layer" probably of metal oxides. The analysis of the nanoparticles showed the presence of the main elements present in the tested alloys as well as high oxygen content, which is another indication of the presence of oxides of Fe, Al and Ti. The amount of emitted nanoparticles, showed considerable increases over the baseline measured for the working envi-ronment, and these increases correspond to the more intense pulses of the laser beam. The material density was seen to highly affect the quantity of emitted nanoparticles. During LSP of aluminium alloy (the lighter material) a large quantity of nanoparticles was measured, while in LSP of stainless steel few nanoparticles were observed, and this is the denser material, among the three tested. Titanium alloy results in intermediate values. The study of these emissions is innovative and relevant for industrial environments where the manufacturing process is in use.
- Assessment and control of nanoparticles exposure in welding operations by use of a control banding toolPublication . Albuquerque, Paula Cristina; Gomes, João; Pereira, C. A.; Miranda, Rosa M.This paper describes the use of a Control Banding Tool to assess and further control of exposure of nanoparticles emitted during welding operations. The tool was applied to Metal Active Gas (MAG) arc welding of mild and stainless steel, providing semi-quantitative data on the process, so that protection measures could be derived, e.g. exhaust gas ventilation by hoods, local ventilation devices and containment measures. This tool is quite useful to compare and evaluate the characteristics of arc welding procedures so that more eco-friendly processes could be preferred over the more potentially noxious ones.
- Comparison of deposited surface area of airbone ultrafine particles generated from two welding processesPublication . Gomes, João; Albuquerque, Paula Cristina; Miranda, Rosa M.; Santos, Telmo G.; Vieira, Maria Teresa FreireThis article describes work performed on the assessment of the levels of airborne ultrafine particles emitted in two welding processes metal-active gas (MAG) of carbon steel and friction-stir welding (FSW) of aluminium in terms of deposited area in alveolar tract of the lung using a nanoparticle surface area monitor analyser. The obtained results showed the dependence from process parameters on emitted ultrafine particles and clearly demonstrated the presence of ultrafine particles, when compared with background levels. The obtained results showed that the process that results on the lower levels of alveolar-deposited surface area is FSW, unlike MAG. Nevertheless, all the tested processes resulted in important doses of ultrafine particles that are to be deposited in the human lung of exposed workers.