A Review on the Study of the Generation of (Nano)particles Aerosols during the Mechanical Solicitation of Materials

Abstract

This paper focuses on presenting the forefront of the interdisciplinary studies conceived towards the generation of the wear particles aerosol when materials are subjected to mechanical stresses. Various wear mechanisms and instrumentation involved during stress application and aerosolization of wear particles, as well as particles characterization, measurement, and modeling techniques are presented through the investigation of a series of contextual works which are emphasized on the identification of these aspects. The review is motivated from the fact that understanding mechanisms involved in wear-induced particle generation, both at nano- and at microscale, is important for many applications that involve surfaces sliding over each other due to various potential health aspects. An attempt has been made to explain how the information based on this broad spectrum of subjects discovered in this contribution can be used and improved in order to produce a more resilient, rational, and versatile knowledge base which has been found lacking in the present literature during its survey. The area of study is highly multidisciplinary since it involves aerosol, particle, and material sciences.

NanoRelease: Pilot interlaboratory comparison of a weathering protocol applied to resilient and labile polymers with and without embedded carbon nanotubes

“…Several reviews focus on the characteristics of release in the sense of identity and shape of released entities. Polydispersed sizes of fragments of the nanocomposite material are released by mechanical energy input and only exceptional cases report release of free carbon nanotubes (CNTs) [ 3 – 5 ]. In the case of MWCNTs with a matrix that is cross-linked or brittle, mechanically disrupted fragments show protrusions of the CNTs with only a few percentage’s elongation at break [ 6 , 7 ].…”

Emission of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles from Building Materials to the Environment by Wear and Weather

“…Resting on the external surfaces, these nanocoatings are frequently subjected to various mechanical solicitations and environmental weathering in real life conditions. 3,4,5 As a result, the consequent loss in their structural integrity leads to their disintegration which, in turn, may lead to the exposure of embedded nanoparticles 6 and thus their possible release too. Depending upon the type of medium in contact, this release can be into air as well as into ground waters.…”

Experimental Study of the Aerosolization from a Carbon Nanotube Bulk by a Vortex Shaker

“…For safety purposes, all equipment is placed in a confined facility [17,18] in order to prevent the person conducting the experiment from being accidentally exposed to aerosols [19].…”