Influence of Shielding Gas and Wire Type on the Microparticles Size Generated during MAG Welding Process

Exposure of welders to welding fumes and microparticles produced during electric welding can be dangerous and may cause serious maladies. It is important to understand the formation mechanism of microparticles generated during welding process on the one hand and the methods to diminish the risk on the welder’s health on the other hand. Experimental research results related to the assessment of microparticles size, generated during MAG welding process, are presented and discussed in detail in this paper. Rutile flux-cored and low fume metal powder cored wires with 1.2 mm diameter in combination with CO2 shielding gas or M21 gas mixture (Corgon 18) have been used in the investigations. The experimental tests were performed in a special enclosure, equipped with Glass Fiber Filters and a Philips vacuum, with the aim to capture the microparticles developed by the MAG welding process. The microparticles collected during the experimental program have been analysed and measured by electron microscopy method with (SEM/ESEM - EDAX) Quanta 200 microscope. The study showed that low fume metal powder cored wires determined the achievement of smaller microparticles in comparison with rutile flux-cored wires. Finally, several conclusions emerged from the findings of this study are synthetically presented.