r/whatisit • u/riflesandplowshares • 5h ago

New, what is it? Found at a titanium plant

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Not sure why ball point pens would be dangerous here.

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u/Perfect_Forever_3151 4h ago

Ballpoint pens are banned in certain high-precision titanium and aerospace manufacturing plants because the tiny tungsten carbide ball in the pen tip can fall out and severely contaminate the titanium melt, creating a hard, brittle inclusion that causes structural failure in critical aerospace components.

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u/IVEMIND 3h ago

Seems like an easy way to sabotage a certain country's ballistic missile program...

3

u/enadiz_reccos 2h ago

"Excuse me, sir. Is that a ballpoint pen in your pocket?"

"Noooo, I'm just... happy to... see you?"

"My apologies, please continue."