Behavior and fate of halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) when incinerating PA6 / HNTs nanocomposite

Abstract : Since the end of the nineties, nanoclays based nanocomposites have been widely studied and produced. These trendy materials are expected to end up in incineration waste plants. Recently, various studies have focused on the particulate emissions of polymer nanocomposites during their combustion [1, 2, 3]. The aim of our work is to investigate the behavior and the fate of the nano-objects from nanocomposites during their incineration. This study focuses on PA6/HNTs nanocomposites (polyamide 6 incorporating halloysite nanotubes). Incineration tests have been performed at lab-scale using a peculiar tubular furnace modified in order to control the key incineration parameters within both the combustion and post-combustion zones [4]. The combustion residues and the combustion aerosol (particle matter and gas phase) collected downstream the incinerator furnace have been characterized using various techniques devoted to the analysis of aerosols. Time tracking for gas concentration and particle number concentration reveals a two step mechanism. HNTs have been found both in aerosol and residues. As shown in Fig.1, some remains intact, while others are aggregated.