A. A. Johnson, Metals Research Inc., Louisville, KY; R. J. Storey, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY

Summary: The possibility that asbestos fibers in welding electrodes can be released into the atmosphere has been investigated. Release can occur by a proposed "pop-out" mechanism away from the arc where heat has dissociated celluose in an electrode. The fibers are readily drawn by convection into the arc and destroyed.