Hazards of hot welding PVC and fume extraction

ss-300-wsOur benchtop Winged Sentries provide a flexible work space for tasks that require local exhaust ventilation (LEV).

For example, say a company wants to ship small trays of laboratory chemicals arranged in the order a lab tech uses them.

What’s more, the company wants to provide the lab chemicals in customized amounts.

Winged Sentries pull fumes away from the worker as they manipulate the devices they use to weigh and fill an order even when those manipulations differ from order to order.

Packaging solutions may produce hazardous fumes

Custom vacuum-formed trays with reservoirs could work well for chemicals, for example, because measured amounts of each custom powder could be placed into the reservoirs.

Pictures of heat guns used in welding polymers.

Heat gun photos per a Google image search.

A clear plastic lid could be hot-welded to the tray to keep each substance in its respective reservoir.

And right there – when packaging involves the heating of plastics – you have a potential respiratory hazard.

Why?

Thermal decomposition

Plastic welding guns produce temperatures that range from 105  – 1150° F.

High temperatures can cause polymers to break down, to thermally decompose, to produce methane, propane, carbon monoxide, and aldehydes — all substances that shouldn’t be inhaled.

Gratifying

It is gratifying to us that this customer is looking out for the respiratory health of the workers who will weld PVC.

If you are investigating respiratory protective actions for welding polymers, give our applications specialists a call at 800.799.4609 or email them at sales@sentryair.com.

You can also contact them via the feedback form below.

 

Resources

Are You Burning Plastic or Are You Welding Plastic?

Are You Burning Plastic or Are You Welding Plastic?

Take 2: Are you welding plastic or are you burning plastic

Take 2: Are you welding plastic or are you burning plastic?

Respiratory Hazards of Plastic Injection Molding