The effect of nanosilica (SiO₂) and nanoalumina (Al₂O₃) reinforced polyester nanocomposites on aerosol nanoparticle emissions into the environment during automated drilling

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect nanosilica and nanoalumina has on nanoparticle release from industrial nanocomposites due to drilling for hazard reduction whilst simultaneously obtaining the necessary mechanical performance. This study is therefore specifically designed such that all background noise is eliminated in the measurements range of 0.01 particles/cm 3 and §10% at 10 6 particles/cm 3. The impact nano-sized SiO 2 and Al 2 O 3 reinforced polyester has on nanoparticle aerosols generated due to drilling is investigated. Real-time measurement was conducted within a specially designed controlled test chamber using a condensation particle counter (CPC) and a scanning mobility particle sizer spectrometer (SMPS). The results show that the polyester nanocomposite samples displayed statistically significant differences and an increase in nanoparticle number concentration by up to 228% compared to virgin polyester. It is shown that the nanofillers adhered to the polyester matrix showing a higher concentration of larger particles released (between 20-100 nm). The increase in nanoparticle reinforcement weight concentration and resulting nanoparticle release vary considerably between the nanosilica and nanoalumina samples due to the nanofillers presence. This study indicates a future opportunity to safer by design strategy that reduces number of particles released concentration and sizes without compromising desired mechanical properties for engineered polymers and composites.

The Influence of Graphene Oxide on Nanoparticle Emissions during Drilling of Graphene/Epoxy Carbon-Fiber Reinforced Engineered Nanomaterials

“…This would suggest the more holes being drilled also increases the particle number concentration peak size. Therefore, GO at 0.5 wt.% shows an increasing trend with more holes drilled, which is not evident within other studies [28][29][30].…”

“…As discussed, currently only nine studies have evaluated the influence of nanoparticles on nanoparticle release during drilling [23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31]. All of the studies observed nanoparticle release and highlighted the potential hazard and exposure to humans which needs to be understood.…”

“…As the same methodology was used in three other studies [28][29][30], the materials used across the studies can be compared. In contrast to EP-based samples from one study [29] without CF reinforcement, the peak particle number concentrations in this study can be seen to be significantly lower.…”