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Metal compositions of particle emissions from material extrusion 3D printing: Emission sources and indoor exposure modeling
Citation:
Zhang, Q., R. Weber, Todd P. Luxton, Derek M. Peloquin, Eric J. Baumann, AND M. Black. Metal compositions of particle emissions from material extrusion 3D printing: Emission sources and indoor exposure modeling. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT. Elsevier BV, AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, 860:160512, (2023). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160512
Impact/Purpose:
Inorganic elements (metals/metalloids) are present at elevated concentrations in the feedstock materials used in 3D printing/AM and are partitioned into the aerosol/iNP phase. The role of inorganics in the observed health effects documented for 3D printer/AM is ill defined and questions regarding how changes in the composition and abundance in different size fractions remain. The current research presents data obtained from experiments that quantify the composition of metals present in the aerosols generated during 3D printing.
Description:
Material extrusion 3D printing has been widely used in industrial, educational and residential environments, while its exposure health impacts have not been well understood. High levels of ultrafine particles are found being emitted from 3D printing and could pose a hazard when inhaled. However, metals that potentially transfer from filament additives to emitted particles could also add to the exposure hazard, which have not been well characterized for their emissions. This study analyzed metal (and metalloid) compositions of raw filaments and in the emitted particles during printing; studied filaments included pure polymer filaments with metal additives and composite filaments with and without metal powder. Our chamber study found that crustal metals tended to have higher partitioning factors from filaments to emitted particles; silicon was the most abundant element in emitted particles and had the highest yield per filament mass. However, bronze and stainless-steel powder added in composite filaments were less likely to transfer from filament to particle.
URLs/Downloads:
DOI: Metal compositions of particle emissions from material extrusion 3D printing: Emission sources and indoor exposure modeling
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