Steel Cutting FumeWhen carbon and alloy steels are cut by any heat source, fume will be produced. What is in the fume, and how much of it there is, depends on the steel and the cutting process being used. Particulate fume from cutting mild and low carbon steels tends to be comprised mostly of iron oxide plus some manganese oxide. Fume from cutting alloy steels may also contain small amounts of oxides of alloying elements, such as nickel or chromium. Any gaseous fume produced is likely to contain ozone and/or nitrogen oxides. Oxygen cutting steel does not tend to produce significant amounts of particulate fume under normal circumstances. It may, however, generate some nitrogen oxides, but will not produce any ozone. Plasma cutting may produce considerable quantities of particulate fume, and is also likely to generate nitrogen oxides in significant amounts when thick plate is being cut. In general terms, as current and cutting speed increase so does fume production. Laser cutting may also generate considerable volumes of particulate fume and may produce nitrogen oxides and ozone. Particulate fume from cutting steel is not thought to present any major hazards. Alloying constituents, manganese, nickel, and chromium only tend to be produced in low concentration. Nitrogen oxides and ozone are harmful gases and steps must be taken to keep exposure to a minimum.
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