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Scenarios and methods that induce protruding or released CNTs after degradation of nanocomposite materials
Journal article   Open access

Scenarios and methods that induce protruding or released CNTs after degradation of nanocomposite materials

Sabine Hirth, Lorenzo Cena, Gerhard Cox, Željko Tomović, Thomas Peters and Wendel Wohlleben
Journal of nanoparticle research : an interdisciplinary forum for nanoscale science and technology, Vol.15(4), pp.1-15
04/2013
DOI: 10.1007/s11051-013-1504-x
PMCID: PMC3625415
PMID: 23596358
url
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-013-1504-xView
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Nanocomposite materials may be considered as a low-risk application of nanotechnology, if the nanofillers remain embedded throughout the life-cycle of the products in which they are embedded. We hypothesize that release of free CNTs occurs by a combination of mechanical stress and chemical degradation of the polymer matrix. We experimentally address limiting cases: Mechanically released fragments may show tubular protrusions on their surface. Here we identify these protrusions unambiguously as naked CNTs by chemically resolved microscopy and a suitable preparation protocol. By size-selective quantification of fragments we establish as a lower limit that at least 95 % of the CNTs remain embedded. Contrary to classical fiber composite approaches, we link this phenomenon to matrix materials with only a few percent elongation at break, predicting which materials should still cover their CNT nanofillers after machining. Protruding networks of CNTs remain after photochemical degradation of the matrix, and we show that it takes the worst case combinations of weathering plus high-shear wear to release free CNTs in the order of mg/m2/year. Synergy of chemical degradation and mechanical energy input is identified as the priority scenario of CNT release, but its lab simulation by combined methods is still far from real-world validation.
 Degradation Optics, Optoelectronics, Plasmonics and Optical Devices Nanocomposites Physical Chemistry Life-cycle Characterization and Evaluation of Materials Material Science Characterization for toxicology purposes Inorganic Chemistry Nanotechnology

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