Field Sampling Targeting Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotube Exposure During Destructive Testing of Composite Materials
Abstract
In this report, destructive processes evaluating tensile and compressive strength of materials reinforced with multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were sampled to investigate emission of aerosolized particulate matter (PM) targeting presence of MWCNT fragments. Generally, there was not a high increase in particulate generated by most of these processes, based on data from particle counters measuring particulate 1 micron and below in diameter. No particulate resembling representative native MWCNT was found via electron microscopy. For the slower compressive and tensile tests, increases in fine particulate (here <1 micrometer (m) were observed for sampling events, contrasting much lower release of ultrafine (<100 nanometers (nm)) particulate, although overall particle emission was low. However, the most significant process in this case, high-speed compression, showed the highest increase in both overall particulate and ultrafine particulate. Electron microscopy did not show definitive MWCNTs or MWCNT fragments, but carbonaceous flakes were found for all three processes sampled. Numerous small particles and small non-carbonaceous fibers were found for the final process, high-speed compression. Of the destructive processes sampled, the high-speed compression test was the most significant; however, this test also occurs several feet away from the user, and particle counts approach background counts minutes post-impact.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 17, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1075507
Entities
People
- Ariel Parker
- Richard Salisbury
- Saber Hussain
Organizations
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine