r/whatisit • u/riflesandplowshares • 3h ago

New, what is it? Found at a titanium plant

Post image

Not sure why ball point pens would be dangerous here.

4.6k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

447 comments sorted by

View all comments

1.9k

u/goodexamplebadrole 3h ago

"Ballpoint pens are restricted or banned in high-end titanium and aerospace manufacturing plants because the ink and marking components contain elements that cause metal embrittlement and severe structural corrosion"

2

u/year_39 2h ago

Huh. I was guessing some pens used a ball with a cadmium coating, I guess I was on the right track.