Evaluation of steel cutting techniques

The research work relates to testing in air of various relevant cutting tools. Its originality is a comparison between dismantling tools in the same normalised conditions of use. This comparison of different cutting techniques was carried out in order to determine the real cutting time, to improve the knowledge of the cutting tools and of the secondary emissions (sedimented dross, attached slag, deposits on the walls of the cell and aerosols in the exhaust duct). The non-radioactive experiments were carried out in a 32 m3 airtight cell with five tools (plasma torch, alternating saw, grinder are saw and arc air) for cutting mild and stainless steel plates with thickness of 10, 30 and 50 mm. Among the tested tools, the plasma torch is the fastest and the alternating saw the slowest. The arc-air and the arc saw produce the widest kerfs and thus the most wastes. The electrode of the arc-air, the wheels of the arc saw and of the grinder wear the most rapidly. The alternating saw generates the least mass of aerosols. (authors). 3 refs., 7 figs