Brazing Fume
Brazing Fume Extraction
Brazing fume consists of airborne un-burnt flux residues and particles of filler rod as well as heat fume generated from the brazing process itself, the fumes can normally be seen. Exposure both short and long term should be avoided. Airborne contaminants from welding, cutting, brazing and heating operations can pose health hazards. Most hazardous airborne materials are heavy metals found in welding fumes. Metals are present in paint coatings (chromium and lead), in surface coatings such as zinc on galvanize, and cadmium used to protect surfaces. Very high temperatures that occur during welding, cutting, brazing or heating release these materials in the form of fumes (fine particle smoke), this is extremely dangerous to our lungs and all necessary means should be taken to eliminate the risk.
Brazing fumes and gases cannot be classified easily. The composition and quality of both is dependent upon the metal being razed, the process, procedures, and filler metals being used. Other conditions which also influence the composition and quality of the fumes and gases to which workers may be exposed include: coatings on the metal being brazed (such as paint, plating, or galvanizing), the number of operators and the volume of the work area, the type of brazing alloy being used, the quality and amount of ventilation, the position of the operator’s head in respect to the fume plume, as well as contaminants in the atmosphere (such as chlorinated hydrocarbon vapors from cleaning and degreasing activities). When the flux and the filler metal are consumed, the fume and gas decomposition products generated are different in percent and form from the ingredients in Fume and gas decomposition products from brazing alloy and base metal, not just the ingredients of the flux are important.
See side tabs for some solutions to your brazing fume problem!