title: Evaluation of particles released from single-wall carbon nanotube/polymer composites with or without thermal aging by an accelerated abrasion test.
abstract: To provide data required for assessing the environmental health and safety risks of nanocomposites, abrasion-induced particle release from single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT)/polymer composites with or without thermal aging were evaluated by a shot blast system. First, overall composite weight loss (i.e., overall particle release) as a result of shot blasting was measured. Incorporating 5 wt% SWCNTs in polystyrene (PS) matrix was observed to reduce overall particle release by approximately 30% compared with pure PS. Heat treatment of the 5 wt% SWCNT/PS composites at 100°C for 10 days induced very slight change in overall particle release due to shot blasting. However, heat treatment at 350°C for 1 hr greatly deteriorated the abrasion resistance of the composites, enhancing overall particle release. Second, to verify the existence and form of SWCNTs released from the composites, released particles were observed by electron microscopy. Micron-sized particles with protruding SWCNTs and submicron-sized SWCNT clusters were observed in the particles released from the composites. Heat treatment of the composites at 350°C for 1 hr enhanced SWCNT release, which mainly formed clusters or rope-like bundles.
authors.affiliation: a Joining and Welding Research Institute , Osaka University , Osaka , Japan.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shigeta
authors.forename: Shigehisa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Endoh
authors.forename: Mitsugu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uejima
authors.forename: Isamu
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ogura
authors.forename: Makio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Naito
mesh_terms: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006358:Hot Temperature; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000032:analysis* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000032:analysis* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010316:Particle Size; D011108:Polymers / Q000032:analysis*; D011137:Polystyrenes
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D011108:Polymers; D011137:Polystyrenes
keywords: CNT; abrasion; exposure; nanocomposite; release; safety