Sigloch Heike, Bierkandt Frank S, Singh Ajay V, Gadicherla Ashish K, Laux Peter, Luch Andreas
Department of Chemical and Product Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR);
Department of Chemical and Product Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR).
J Vis Exp. 2020 Oct 9(164). doi: 10.3791/61829.
Three-dimensional (3D) printing as a type of additive manufacturing shows continuing increase in application and consumer popularity. The fused filament fabrication (FFF) is an inexpensive method used most frequently by consumers. Studies with 3D printers have shown that during the printing process particulate and volatile substances are released. Handheld 3D printing pens also use the FFF method but the consumer's proximity to the 3D pens gives reason to higher exposure compared to a 3D printer. At the same time, 3D printing pens are often marketed for children who could be more sensitive to the printing emission. The aim of this study was to implement a low cost method to analyze the emissions of 3D printing pens. Polylactide (PLA) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) filaments of different colors were tested. In addition, filaments containing metal and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were analyzed. An 18.5 L chamber and sampling close to the emission source was used to characterize emissions and concentrations near the breathing zone of the user. Particle emissions and particle size distributions were measured and the potential release of metal particles and CNTs investigated. Particle number concentrations were found in a range of 10 - 10 particles/cm, which is comparable to previous reports from 3D printers. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis showed nanoparticles of the different thermoplastic materials as well as of metal particles and CNTs. High contents of metal were observed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). These results call for a cautious use of 3D pens due to potential risk to the consumers.
三维（3D）打印作为一种增材制造技术，其应用和受消费者欢迎程度持续上升。熔融沉积成型（FFF）是消费者最常使用的一种低成本方法。对3D打印机的研究表明，在打印过程中会释放颗粒物质和挥发性物质。手持式3D打印笔也采用FFF方法，但由于消费者与3D打印笔距离更近，相比3D打印机，其暴露风险更高。与此同时，3D打印笔经常面向儿童销售，而儿童可能对打印排放物更为敏感。本研究的目的是实施一种低成本方法来分析3D打印笔的排放物。对不同颜色的聚乳酸（PLA）和丙烯腈-丁二烯-苯乙烯（ABS）细丝进行了测试。此外，还分析了含金属和碳纳米管（CNT）的细丝。使用一个18.5升的腔室，并在靠近排放源处进行采样，以表征用户呼吸区域附近的排放物和浓度。测量了颗粒排放物和粒径分布，并研究了金属颗粒和碳纳米管的潜在释放情况。发现颗粒数浓度范围为10 - 10颗粒/立方厘米，这与之前关于3D打印机的报告相当。透射电子显微镜（TEM）分析显示了不同热塑性材料以及金属颗粒和碳纳米管的纳米颗粒。通过电感耦合等离子体质谱法（ICP-MS）观察到高含量的金属。由于对消费者存在潜在风险，这些结果呼吁谨慎使用3D打印笔。
