Single-Particle ICP-TOFMS Analysis of Aerosol Particulate Matter Released by Fused Deposition Modeling 3D Printers
Taylor et al.
Anal. Chem., 2024
DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c04937
최근 발표된 분석 화학 의 연구원들이 이끄는 Department of Chemistry at Iowa State University employed the icpTOF S2 was utilized to analyze 3D printer emissions, focusing on the metal composition of particles released during fused deposition modeling (FDM). By analyzing over 1000 particles from common filaments like ABS, PLA, and stainless-steel-embedded polymers, the study identified metals such as Al, Ti, Fe, and Zr, with Fe particles comprising over 50% of the emissions.
Additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, is increasingly popular across industrial, medical, laboratory, and residential settings, with applications from custom aerospace parts to medical implants. FDM is among the most accessible 3D printing methods, using thermoplastic filaments that are heated, layered, and fused to create objects. However, the growing use of 3D printers raises concerns about the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and aerosol particulate matter (PM), both of which can pose health risks.
Research has employed techniques like gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify VOCs and scanning mobility particle sizing to characterize PM size and concentration. Additional studies use electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy for particle morphology and composition analysis. Yet, the heavy metal composition of PM remains underexplored. Hazardous metals like Fe, Cr, Co, and Pb, identified as EPA-regulated pollutants, can harm the lungs, kidneys, and brain upon prolonged exposure, and are likely to be part of 3D printer emission.
This study introduces single-particle inductively coupled plasma time-of-flight mass spectrometry (spICP-TOFMS) to analyze PM from FDM printers at an individual particle level. Particles are collected using a positive-pressure sampling chamber with membrane filters, extracted into water, and analyzed. The research focused on common filaments such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polylactic acid (PLA), and a specialty filament containing stainless steel particles. Measurements of over 1000 particles per filament type revealed that metals like Al, Ti, Fe, and Zr are common, with single-metal Fe particles comprising over 50% of the thermoplastic particle population. Additionally, multimetal associations unique to each filament type were identified. For the stainless-steel-embedded filament, FeCr particles characteristic of the filament composition were observed, with Fe:Cr mass ratios ranging from 4.4 to 3.6. These findings confirm that stainless steel aerosols are released during printing. The method demonstrates high sensitivity, detecting particles with critical masses as low as 0.03 femtograms, and provides valuable insights into the metal emissions from 3D printing processes.
This research demonstrates how our icpTOF technology enables precise multi-element quantification with exceptional sensitivity and accuracy, providing crucial insights into both organic and inorganic emissions from 3D printers to enhance health risk assessments.
