Thermal decomposition of nano-enabled thermoplastics: Possible environmental health and safety implications.

ABSTRACT: Nano-enabled products (NEPs) are currently part of our life prompting for detailed investigation of potential nano-release across their life-cycle. Particularly interesting is their end-of-life thermal decomposition scenario. Here, we examine the thermal decomposition of widely used NEPs, namely thermoplastic nanocomposites, and assess the properties of the byproducts (released aerosol and residual ash) and possible environmental health and safety implications. We focus on establishing a fundamental understanding on the effect of thermal decomposition parameters, such as polymer matrix, nanofiller properties, decomposition temperature, on the properties of byproducts using a recently-developed lab-based experimental integrated platform. Our results indicate that thermoplastic polymer matri

SUBMITTER: Sotiriou GA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4707061 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature