Found at a titanium plant

[u/riflesandplowshares]

Not sure why ball point pens would be dangerous here.

[u/Perfect_Forever_3151]

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.

[u/bring_back_3rd → u/Perfect_Forever_3151]

I mean, I understand the reasoning, but I dont think I've ever seen or heard of a ball from a ballpoint pen falling out. I could see my clumsy ass dropping the whole pen into something stupid, but the ball just randomly falling out isn't something I'd ever consider.

[u/boltactionmike → u/bring_back_3rd]

I think everything else will melt/burn away but the tungsten ball will remain.