I don't know many specifics, but I do know that as a lifeguard/swimming pool maintence guy I was warned repeatedly about the adverse health effects associated with the inhalation of fine silicon particles.  Wasn't given anything specific, just horror stories about asthma, chronic bronchitis, and other respiratory ailments.

Eric Kalgren
BFGoodrich Aerospace
Data Systems Division



>>> Joe Wojniak <[log in to unmask]> 10/28/99 01:15PM >>>
Related to sand and aluminum oxide:

I was watching a TV show doing a documentary on etching pictures into glass
by sand blasting.  The artist was using aluminum oxide instead of sand
because there are apparently health risks associated with sand.

Don't know if it's true or just Hollywood...

-Joe Wojniak

 -----Original Message-----
From:   TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]]  On Behalf Of Vaughan, Ralph H
Sent:   Thursday, October 28, 1999 9:33 AM
To:     [log in to unmask] 
Subject:        [TN] sand-man

For anyone who would like a diversion from the assembly processes, I have a
different question.

My Army customer is simulating field testing of a weapon system to check the
abrasion resistance of some treated metal surfaces (tungsten carbide) that
rub together during flight.  The 'sand' that they are using to contaminate
these areas is aluminum oxide.  Needless to say, excessive scoring is
observed on the metal faces.  My contention is that sand is primarily
quartz, or silicon dioxide, which is softer than the Al2O3, and the system
is being over-tested.

Anyone have a notion of the acceptable sand type used in environmental
tests?

Thanks

Ralph Vaughan
Boeing-Fleming

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