New evidence towards the release of airborne carbon nanotubes when burning nanocomposite polymers

Abstract : The combustion of a CNT-filled nanocomposite polymer have been studied thanks to the use of differential thermal analysis coupled to measurement devices (sampling and particle concentration monitoring) to evaluate the potential release of nano-objects in the fumes. We demonstrate that, in some circumstance, airborne carbon nanotubes (isolated fibres or agglomerates) are released in the combustion fumes when a piece of nanocomposite polymer is burned. This result completes the state-of-the art literature, bringing brand new evidence of CNT release from final product thanks to the use of an adapted experimental setup. Then, our conclusions address a new kind of safety issues in regard to the end of life (fire, combustion) of this kind of nanocomposites.