Compared with pure tungsten electrodes, Thoriated Tungsten Electrode has greater current carrying capacity, easier arc start, improved electron emission quality of electrodes, more stable welding process, longer service life and higher anti-pollution level. Thoriated Tungsten Electrode is especially suitable for direct current welding of stainless steel, carbon, nickel alloy and titanium. It has good performance in almost all TIG welding processes and is not easy to be replaced. However, the radioactive α particles in thorium will cause a certain risk of radiation pollution to the human body, so special attention should be paid during the grinding and welding process. Next, there are several common safety measures:
1. Ventilation: Experts recommend local exhaust ventilation near the grinding source to trap dust.
2. Respiratory protective equipment: masks and respirators can be selected.
3. Cleaning and Disposal: Any dust collected by the exhaust ventilation or swept from the grinding area, as well as any used bits should be placed in an airtight container, labeled and sent to a landfill.
Even with strict adherence to and thorough execution of ventilation and cleaning, it cannot be absolutely certain that all dust from grinding tungsten thoride has been removed from the area. For most welders using thoriated tungsten electrodes, the solution is to avoid on-site grinding by ordering tungsten electrodes that are pre-ground by the manufacturer in a controlled environment. This practice completely avoids any risk of contact with radioactive dust and makes it easier to recycle used thoriated tungsten electrodes. Pre-ground thoriated tungsten electrodes meet existing welding parameters without the need to revalidate the weld, avoiding the risk of radiation exposure, eliminating the liability of disposal and yielding better weld quality in these high specification applications.
