AAAR 36th Annual Conference October 16 - October 20, 2017 Raleigh Convention Center Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
Abstract View
Investigating Particle Emissions from a Consumer Fused Deposition Modeling 3D Printer with a Lognormal Moment Aerosol Dynamic Model
QIAN ZHANG, Girish Sharma, Jenny P.S. Wong, Aika Davis, Marilyn Black, Pratim Biswas, Rodney J. Weber, Georgia Institute of Technolgy
Abstract Number: 573 Working Group: Indoor Aerosols
Abstract Consumer-level fused deposition modeling 3D printers are widely used in residential and public spaces due to their relative low cost, operational ease and the general public interest in 3D printing technology. This has led to concerns over potential exposures to unknown emissions related to the plastic extrusion process. A number of studies have measured particle emissions from 3D printers and all consistently reported significant levels of nanoparticle emissions during the printing period. However, the particle formation process and subsequent aerosol dynamics have not been investigated. We have measured concentrations and size distributions for 7 nm to 20 μm particles emitted from various 3D printers in an emission test chamber following a standard test method developed for laser printers. The experimental data is then coupled with a moment lognormal aerosol dynamic model to better understand particle formation and evolution mechanism. A sensitivity analysis is done to understand the effect of printer operating conditions and filament material on steady state particle concentration and size distribution. Model development, results and major parameters affecting observed particle concentrations in the chamber will be presented.