Title
Evaluation of airborne particle emissions from commercial products containing carbon nanotubes
Document Type
Thesis
Date of Degree
Spring 2012
Degree Name
MS (Master of Science)
Degree In
Occupational and Environmental Health
First Advisor
Thomas Peters
Abstract
In this study, we developed and standardized a sanding method to evaluate the emission of airborne particles from products that contain carbon nanotubes (CNTs) under different conditions, including three types of sandpaper and three sanding disc speed. We also characterized the emission of the airborne particles from one neat epoxy test sample, four CNTs-incorporating test samples with different CNTs loading, and two commercial products. The total number concentration, respirable mass concentration, and particle size number/mass distribution of the emitted particles were calculated and compared, followed by an electron microscopy (EM) analysis. These data suggest that the sanding process can produce substantial quantities of airborne particles. Also, the emission of airborne particles was associated with different test conditions. EM analysis of the airborne particle samples showed embedded CNTs protruding from the outer surface, which was different from CNTs-incorporating bulk material. Our study suggests a potential generation of particles during the life cycle event of sanding. Further studies should be carried out to investigate the potential human health hazard in other life cycle events.
Keywords
CNTs, Number concentration, Particle, Particle size distribution, Respirable mass concentration, Sanding
Pages
vi, 65 pages
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 47-52).
Copyright
Copyright 2012 Guannan Huang