Tailoring flux composition to control welding fume and hexavalent chromium emissions in flux cored arc welding

Flux-cored arc welding (FCAW) generates hazardous byproducts such as welding fumes and hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)), posing significant health and environmental risks. This study investigated the effectiveness of modifying specific flux components in flux-cored wires (FCWs) to reduce these emissions...

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Main Authors: Sungyo Jung, Gi Taek Oh, Seungjin Jung, Chungsik Yoon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Journal of Advanced Joining Processes
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666330925000329
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author Sungyo Jung
Gi Taek Oh
Seungjin Jung
Chungsik Yoon
author_facet Sungyo Jung
Gi Taek Oh
Seungjin Jung
Chungsik Yoon
author_sort Sungyo Jung
collection DOAJ
description Flux-cored arc welding (FCAW) generates hazardous byproducts such as welding fumes and hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)), posing significant health and environmental risks. This study investigated the effectiveness of modifying specific flux components in flux-cored wires (FCWs) to reduce these emissions. One base FCW and ten flux-modified FCWs were tested under controlled conditions, capturing emissions for gravimetric and Cr(VI) analysis. Flux compositions were determined using X-ray fluorescence. Statistical analyses, including difference tests, correlation, and multiple linear regression, were conducted to evaluate the association between the content of flux components and emission rates. Sodium (Na) content in the flux was positively associated with increased emission of welding fumes and Cr(VI), while titanium (Ti) content showed a negative association. Increasing the contents of fluorine (F), potassium (K), and chromium (Cr) in the flux raised welding fume emission but reduced Cr(VI) emissions. Strategic adjustments in flux composition, specifically increasing Ti, silicon (Si) and zirconium (Zr) while decreasing Cr, K, Na, and F content, significantly reduced welding fume emissions by up to 32.4 % and Cr(VI) emissions by 95.4 %. These findings suggest that tailoring flux composition can effectively mitigate occupational and environmental hazards, enhance welder safety, and promote more sustainable FCAW practices without compromising welding performance.
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spelling doaj-art-c44d7d28c6544c1a875a0f4596ff8b072025-08-20T02:25:35ZengElsevierJournal of Advanced Joining Processes2666-33092025-06-011110031110.1016/j.jajp.2025.100311Tailoring flux composition to control welding fume and hexavalent chromium emissions in flux cored arc weldingSungyo Jung0Gi Taek Oh1Seungjin Jung2Chungsik Yoon3Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, 1802, Nambusunhwan-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08786, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Environmental Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, 1802, Nambusunhwan-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08786, Republic of KoreaChosun Welding Co., Ltd., 34-13, Hwasan 2-gil, Onsan-eup, Ulju-gun, Ulsan, 45009, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Environmental Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, 1802, Nambusunhwan-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08786, Republic of Korea; Institute of Health and Environment, Seoul National University, 1802, Nambusunhwan-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08786, Republic of Korea; Corresponding author.Flux-cored arc welding (FCAW) generates hazardous byproducts such as welding fumes and hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)), posing significant health and environmental risks. This study investigated the effectiveness of modifying specific flux components in flux-cored wires (FCWs) to reduce these emissions. One base FCW and ten flux-modified FCWs were tested under controlled conditions, capturing emissions for gravimetric and Cr(VI) analysis. Flux compositions were determined using X-ray fluorescence. Statistical analyses, including difference tests, correlation, and multiple linear regression, were conducted to evaluate the association between the content of flux components and emission rates. Sodium (Na) content in the flux was positively associated with increased emission of welding fumes and Cr(VI), while titanium (Ti) content showed a negative association. Increasing the contents of fluorine (F), potassium (K), and chromium (Cr) in the flux raised welding fume emission but reduced Cr(VI) emissions. Strategic adjustments in flux composition, specifically increasing Ti, silicon (Si) and zirconium (Zr) while decreasing Cr, K, Na, and F content, significantly reduced welding fume emissions by up to 32.4 % and Cr(VI) emissions by 95.4 %. These findings suggest that tailoring flux composition can effectively mitigate occupational and environmental hazards, enhance welder safety, and promote more sustainable FCAW practices without compromising welding performance.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666330925000329Flux cored arc weldingWelding fumesHexavalent chromiumEmission controlCleaner productionSustainable welding technologies
spellingShingle Sungyo Jung
Gi Taek Oh
Seungjin Jung
Chungsik Yoon
Tailoring flux composition to control welding fume and hexavalent chromium emissions in flux cored arc welding
Journal of Advanced Joining Processes
Flux cored arc welding
Welding fumes
Hexavalent chromium
Emission control
Cleaner production
Sustainable welding technologies
title Tailoring flux composition to control welding fume and hexavalent chromium emissions in flux cored arc welding
title_full Tailoring flux composition to control welding fume and hexavalent chromium emissions in flux cored arc welding
title_fullStr Tailoring flux composition to control welding fume and hexavalent chromium emissions in flux cored arc welding
title_full_unstemmed Tailoring flux composition to control welding fume and hexavalent chromium emissions in flux cored arc welding
title_short Tailoring flux composition to control welding fume and hexavalent chromium emissions in flux cored arc welding
title_sort tailoring flux composition to control welding fume and hexavalent chromium emissions in flux cored arc welding
topic Flux cored arc welding
Welding fumes
Hexavalent chromium
Emission control
Cleaner production
Sustainable welding technologies
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666330925000329
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AT seungjinjung tailoringfluxcompositiontocontrolweldingfumeandhexavalentchromiumemissionsinfluxcoredarcwelding
AT chungsikyoon tailoringfluxcompositiontocontrolweldingfumeandhexavalentchromiumemissionsinfluxcoredarcwelding