Laser Generated Air Contaminants Released During Laser Cutting of Fabrics and Polymer

Details

• Personal Author:
  Kiefer, Max ; Moss, C. Eugene
• Description:
  Environmental monitoring was conducted at an indu5trial facility to qualitatively identify the major contaminants generated while cutting fabrics and polymers with a 25 W CO2 continuous beam laser. Carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, and particulates were also assessed, and a bulk sample of residue from the laser exhaust duct was analyzed for inorganic acids, pH, and volatile organic compounds. Samples were collected while cutting vinyl, acrylics, woven fabrics, felt, Formica, and Plexiglass. The laser parameters were standardized to allow for meaningful comparison of results tor each target material. The volatile organic compound samples were collected in multibed sorbent tubes with subsequent analysis via thermal desorption and gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy. Depending on the material being cut, a wide variety of compounds were detected. The highest relative concentrations of volatile compounds were found during laser cutting of felt fabrics. The lowest concentrations and fewest number of compounds were from woven fabrics. The compounds detected included hydrochloric acid, aldehydes, benzene, vinyl chloride, various acrylates, acrylonitrile, acetonitrile, styrene, furans, phenol, and butyl cellosolve. Methyl methacrylate was a significant peak detected during the laser cutting of acrylic ester polymers, Plexiglass, and polyvinyl chloride with adhesive backing. Carbon monoxide was not detected above background (2 ppm) during any of the laser cutting trials. Hydrogen cyanide was detected during the laser cutting of felt (15 ppm) and Formicate(8-10 ppm). Particles >/= 0.3um in diameter (umd) generated during the laser cutting exceeded background particle levels by a factor of ten or more. Most compounds detected in the thermal desorption air samples were also detected in the bulk sample, and the residue was acidic (pH = 3). Area samples collected outside the laser enclosure suggested the local exhaust ventilation system sufficiently contained the air contaminants. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Air Pollutants, Occupational Air Pollution, Indoor Dust Manufacturing And Industrial Facilities Occupational Health Particulate Matter Polymers Safety Ventilation
• Keywords:
  Acrylic-fibers Air-contamination Airborne-particles Cutting-tools Dust-particles Industrial-environment Industrial-ventilation Lasers Particulate-dust
• ISSN:
  1042-346X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  7-13
• Volume:
  9
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20034028
• Citation:
  J Laser Appl 1997 Feb; 9(1):7-13
• CAS Registry Number:
  Carbon monoxide (CAS RN 630-08-0) ; Hydrogen cyanide (CAS RN 74-90-8)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1997
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Laser Applications
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:a7781fd03ee50a80bec79a82e54eccefc85ab67d6e0cb4e367c7a2e501ecea7b9a1dac3ee50cd2510657b290329407ce0dd853d93a19fdcb98a50bbc70b46cfd
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/189415/cdc_189415_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1005.38 KB ]