Study of particulate emissions when using special wires for underwater welding

Abstract

The article describes the study to evaluate the emissions to atmospheric air of airborne nano- and microparticles generated during underwater welding in seawater from Ajax Bay (Sea of Japan) using special wires and coated electrodes. The most commonly used underwater industrial production processes were selected: semi-automatic (mechanized) underwater welding with a welding wire, manual welding with electrodes, and semi-automatic (mechanized) underwater cutting with a welding wire for cutting. An aerosol particle counter was used to determine the mass concentration of fine aerosol particles in the air of the working area above the aquarium. The highest number of suspended particles in the atmospheric air was observed in the process of underwater welding with a welding electrode. Comparing the welding wire and the welding electrode for underwater welding, it can be concluded that the welding wire is less dangerous for people, which is confirmed by the lower amount of suspended particles emitted into the atmospheric air during its use.