Occurrence of airborne silicon carbide fibers during industrial production of silicon carbide.

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Abstract
Airborne dust from the production of silicon carbide was analyzed for particle morphology and composition. Fibers of alpha silicon carbide were identified by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with selected area electron diffraction techniques (SAED). Micrographs taken at high magnification revealed several stacking periods along the fiber axis, and 1 or more of the polytypes 2H, 4H or 6H could be distinguished. Preliminary investigations applying SEM showed that 80% of the fibers had diameters of < 0.5 .mu.m and a length > 5 .mu.m. Fiber concentrations were examined by the counting of stationary and personal samples in an optical phase contrast microscope. The fiber levels in the 3 plants investigated were low and < 1 fiber/cc of air (106 fibers/m3). Dust samples from the handling of raw material, including recycled material, contained up to 5 fibers/cc (5 .cntdot. 106 fibers/m3).

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