Material Process Fume
When metals and alloys are welded or cut by any heat source fume will be generated. Welding and cutting fume consists of particulate fume, the fume you can see, and gaseous fume which is not visible. What the fume consists of depends on the material being welded or cut, on any consumable, flux, or gas being used to weld the material, and on the process being used. Particulate welding fume tends to be composed of oxides and other compounds of the metals and alloys being welded and the consumables being used. The components of particulate fume giving most concern include chromium, nickel, manganese, barium and zinc. The most significant component of gaseous welding fume is usually ozone. Particulate fume from cutting processes tends to be composed of oxides of elements present in the material being cut, whilst gaseous fume mainly consists of the oxides of nitrogen and possibly ozone. The welding or cutting process has a marked effect on fume generation and some processes produce more than others. The processes most likely to give significant amounts of fume include MMA, MIG, and cored wire welding, plasma and air-arc cutting. Those usually giving little fume include TIG, plasma, and submerged arc welding and gas cutting.
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