Citation:

Tedla, G. AND K. Rogers. Characterization of 3D printing filaments containing metal additives and their particulate emissions. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT. Elsevier BV, AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, 875:162648, (2023). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162648

Impact/Purpose:

Fused deposition modeling (FDM), also referred to as 3D printing, is a rapidly growing technology used in consumer venues such as homes, schools, libraries, and universities as well as numerous manufacturing sectors. The operation of 3D printers results in the release of inhalable particles and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), raising concerns of possible health impacts for those exposed to 3D printer emissions. Polymer compositions are typically reported for filaments, print objects and emissions; but less has been reported concerning the composition, amounts or the contributing effects of polymer additives. This issue may be relevant to exposure given the wide range of additives (e.g., metals, dyes, organometallics, and nanomaterials) and the possible inclusion of these additives in the resultant particle emissions. Many of the metals associated with negative health effects of exposure to polluted outdoor air, such as Fe, Ni, V, Cr, Zn, Al, Mn, and Pb are also found in both printer filaments and emissions. This study explores qualitative and quantitative analyses of metals in original and printed PLA-copperfill, PLA-bronzefill and PLA-steelfill filaments and characterize particulate emissions generated during 3D printing of these filaments with focus on size, morphology, number, zeta potential, mass, and metals for different printing conditions.

Description:

Polylactic acid (PLA) filaments are widely used in fused filament fabrication (FFF) processes (3D printing). Filament additives such as metallic particles incorporated into PLA to modify functional and aesthetic features of print objects are becoming increasingly popular. However, the identities and concentrations of low percentage and trace metals in these filaments have not been well described in either the literature or product safety information included with the product. We report the structures and concentrations of metals in selected Copperfill, Bronzefill and Steelfill filaments. We also report size-weighted number concentrations and size-weighted mass concentrations of particulate emissions as a function of print temperature for each filament. Particulate emissions were heterogenous in shape and size with airborne particles below 50 nm diameter dominating the size-weighted particle concentrations and larger particles (approximately 300 nm) dominating the mass weighted particle concentration. Results indicate that potential exposure to particles in the nano-size range increase when using print temperatures above 200o C. Because inhalation exposure to nanoparticles has been linked to adverse health outcomes, we suggest that using lower print temperatures for specific metal-fill filaments may reduce their operational hazard.

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