PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTIONS RESULTING FROM THE COMBUSTION OF COMMON THERMOPLASTICS

• Published in: Journal of manufacturing technology research 2012, Vol.4 (3/4), p.125-125
• Main Authors: Handy, Rodney G, Jackson, Mark J, Allen, Cory, Corson, Marla, Zehrung, Craig, Bevill, Brian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetal resins; Airborne particulates; Combustion; Emittance; High density polyethylenes; Laboratories; Lasers; Low density polyethylenes; Particle size; Plastics; Pollutants; Polyamide resins; Polycarbonates; Polyethylene; Polyethylenes; Polylactic acid; Polypropylenes; Polystyrene resins; Raw materials; Studies; Thermoplastics
• ISSN: 1943-8095

This paper will detail an experiment conducted to determine and compare quantitative data of particulate matter emitted from eight different types of plastics during combustion. The emissions of polystyrene (PS), polycarbonate (PC), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), polyoxymethylene (POM), polyamide (PA), and polylactic acid (PLA) were collected, analyzed, and compared. The specimens were ignited and the emitted particulate matter was measured using a portable laser particle counter and a portable condensation nuclei particle counter. The results gathered displayed trends for each specimen that was unique to its chemical composition. Overall, polyamides, such as the NylonTM sample used in this study, produced the most airborne particulate matter in four of the different size ranges of particles above 0.3 micron. However, HDPE presented the highest total cumulative particulate count in the 0.3 micron and greater particle range. Further, the data indicated that, particles in the ultrafine range were approximately three orders of magnitude greater for each of the plastics when compared to those greater than 0.3 micron.