Nano- and Microparticles in Welding Aerosol: Electronic and Microscopic Analysis ☆

Abstract The paper presents the first results of the research of the morphological and material composition of the particles in welding aerosol. It is shown that in terms of morphology the particles are hollow and solid balls, sometimes covered with easily chipped off shell. There are also objects of other forms– ovals, polygons and needles. Fragments of the shell of hollow spheres have the size of up to 10 μm (PM10) and jagged edges, making them and nano-sized particles the most potentially dangerous to human health components of welding aerosol. It is found that the aerosol particles are mainly composed of Fe> Mn> Zn> Ti, but there are minor components of Si, Cl, Zr, Co, Cr, Br, Al, Ca, Mg, K, C, S.