ELMACH

When cutting aluminum with plasma, small particles of aluminum and aluminum oxide are formed on the water table. These particles cool when they come into contact with water and fall to the bottom of the table. When they reach the bottom, aluminum oxide absorbs oxygen but does not bind hydrogen (water consists of hydrogen and oxygen). This hydrogen rises to the surface of the water in the form of bubbles, which then burst and spread in very small amounts in the ambient air.

Hydrogen escaping in this way is usually harmless, however there are water tables with an additional air chamber. This type of tank or chamber is used to rapidly raise or lower the water level by forcing the flow of water with compressed air at low pressure. In this case, it may happen that the oxide and aluminum particles get stuck inside the lower chamber. In this chamber, aluminum oxide will absorb oxygen and leave hydrogen. Large hydrogen bubbles may form after some time of use, which can potentially cause an explosion due to ignition.

During plasma cutting, particles of cut material of different sizes are formed. Heavier ones accumulate inside the plasma table, others in filtration ventilation. Cutting steel and aluminum alternately causes the creation of dust blends inside the work table and ventilation. in some cases such a mixture may explode. For this reason, it is recommended to systematically remove accumulated waste.