Galvanized steel is prone to galvanized welding sickness during welding. During welding, zinc will evaporate, and zinc vapor is toxic to the human body. This article will comprehensively explain the side effects of welding galvanized steel. Hope it will be helpful.
What are the types of welding for galvanized steel?
Welding methods for galvanized pipes:
Generally, gas welding, manual arc welding, CO2 gas shielded welding, submerged arc automatic welding, tungsten inert gas arc welding and other methods are commonly used in galvanized steel structures.
Gas welding:
It was often used for welding galvanized pipes in the past. Due to the disadvantages of unconcentrated heat input, defects are easily generated, and the mechanical properties of the weld are poor, it is basically eliminated in the installation industry. Gas welding has great damage to the galvanized layer.
CO2 gas shielded welding:
It has good welding performance for galvanized steel. When appropriate welding specifications and matching shielding gas and welding materials are used, high-quality welding joints can be obtained. This method is rarely used in engineering practice.
Tungsten inert gas arc welding:
The energy is concentrated, the damage to the galvanized layer is less, and it is easier to form a good single-sided welding and double-sided forming joint. It is a welding method worth adopting, but the welding speed is slow and the cost is expensive.
Manual arc welding:
It is currently the most commonly used welding method in pipeline installation. When the welding rod is selected correctly, such as J421, J422, J423 and other titanium oxide and titanium calcium type welding rods, the melting rate of the welding rod is relatively high, which increases the melting speed relatively because the coating of these welding rods contains a large amount of rutile and ilmenite.
Handheld fiber laser welding :
Laser welding technology is particularly suitable for the requirements of precision welding technology due to its advantages such as high energy density, high welding efficiency, large weld depth-to-width ratio, small heat-affected zone and small thermal deformation. Therefore, it has been widely used in the welding of galvanized steel plates.
Why is welding galvanized steel dangerous
1. High temperatures cause zinc to deteriorate
When galvanized steel pipes are welded, high temperatures are generated, which cause the zinc on the surface of the pipe to evaporate, hydrate, and vaporize. This can lead to the formation of zinc-containing vapors and fumes in the welded area, which can be harmful to human health and cause galvanized welding side effects.
2. Easy to produce toxic gases
Due to the high temperature of welding, toxic gases such as zinc chloride and hydrogen are released during welding. When these gases are inhaled into the human body, they can cause serious harm to the human body, especially to the respiratory system.
3. It is easy to cause deformation of steel pipes
Due to the slender internal structure of galvanized steel pipes, high-temperature operation is required during welding, which can easily lead to deformation of the steel pipe, which will affect the service life and safety of the steel pipe.
What is galvanized poisoning symptoms
Galvanized poisoning usually causes digestive symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, as well as respiratory symptoms, such as dry throat, hoarseness, a metallic taste in the mouth, thirst, chest tightness, and coughing.
How long does galvanized poisoning last
The incubation period of zinc poisoning is relatively short, usually 1-8 hours after inhalation, with sudden severe chills that last for one to two hours, and high fever that can reach 38-40 degrees Celsius.
What are the health risks of welding galvanized steel?
- 1. Oxygen welding will produce some harmful gases, which will cause long-term damage to human physiological functions.
- 2. The strong light produced by oxygen welding will strongly irritate the eyes, causing damage to eye function or even destruction. There is no direct effect on fertility, but long-term exposure may still have an indirect effect.
Mainly radiation! Zinc ionizes and vaporizes at high temperatures, and people will feel pain in every joint and bone of the body after inhaling it! Galvanized steel should have been banned from welding and gas cutting long ago, as it is too harmful to the body.
The smoke produced by the welding of galvanized steel pipes, in addition to the hazards of manganese poisoning and silicosis caused by elements such as manganese and silicon, will also cause damage due to zinc evaporation.
Home remedies for galvanized poisoning
Treatment for galvanized poisoning can be detoxified by eating egg white, milk, strong tea, drinking a lot of water, etc. For details, you should go to the hospital to consult a doctor to understand, which can better relieve the patient’s symptoms.
- Egg white: Egg white is rich in protein. Patients with zinc poisoning can eat egg white, which is conducive to the chemical reaction between protein and zinc to form zinc salt, which can correct the water and electrolyte disorder.
- Milk: Milk is an alkaline food and contains a lot of protein. After zinc poisoning patients drink milk, the protein in milk can react chemically with zinc to form zinc salt deposition, which is conducive to promoting zinc excretion and can alleviate the poisoning.
- Strong tea: Tea contains tea polyphenols. Zinc poisoning in patients usually causes damage to intestinal function. Drinking strong tea during this period can inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria in the intestines, which is conducive to relieving the symptoms of zinc poisoning.
- Drinking a lot of water: Drinking a lot of water at ordinary times can promote the body’s metabolism, increase the amount of urine and the number of urine excretion, and is helpful for zinc excretion.
How to treat galvanized poisoning
If it is mild welding galvanized steel sickness, metal fume heat poisoning, directly taking some brown sugar water or water, combined with rest, can relieve the symptoms. Zinc chloride poisoning can use oxygen to keep breathing unobstructed. If it is skin contact, wash the area with a lot of water.
If soluble zinc salts are taken by mistake, gastric lavage, vomiting and catharsis should be performed immediately. After detoxification, you can use a lot of milk, soy milk, and egg white to protect the gastric mucosa from damage.
FAQ
Can welding galvanized steel make you sick
Yes, welding galvanized steel can make you sick due to the release of toxic zinc fumes, which can cause “metal fume fever.”
Can welding galvanized steel kill you
Severe exposure to zinc fumes from welding galvanized steel can be life-threatening, especially if proper precautions are not taken.
Is it safe to weld galvanized steel
It is not safe to weld galvanized steel without proper ventilation and personal protective equipment due to the risk of inhaling toxic fumes.
How long does galvanized poisoning last
The incubation period of zinc poisoning is relatively short, usually 1-8 hours after inhalation, with sudden severe chills that last for one to two hours, and high fever that can reach 38-40 degrees Celsius
Can you weld galvanized steel to regular steel
Yes, you can weld galvanized steel to regular steel, but you must remove the galvanized coating around the weld area to avoid toxic fumes.