Home Materials Scientists Published Paper About Ultra-fine Particles Emitted By 3D Printers

Scientists Published Paper About Ultra-fine Particles Emitted By 3D Printers

To test out which 3D printers and which filaments are the biggest source of fine particles in the air around, these scientists set up a control chamber.

In the paper called Emissions of Ultrafine Particles and Volatile Organic Compounds from Commercially Available Desktop Three-Dimensional Printers with Multiple Filaments” five scientists from the Illinois Institute of Technology showed how and which 3D printers effect their surroundings. Parham Azimi, Dan Zhao, Clarie Pouzet, Neil E. Crains and Brent Stephens found out which filaments are the worst for your lungs.

The team testet not just the type of different available filaments but also different manufacturers. Less surprising is that PLA filaments contain less hazardous volatile organic compounds than ABS, HIPS, Nylon or special filaments with wood or brick particles inside. But it was kind of surprising how the filaments vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.

Results from a screening analysis of potential exposure to these products in a typical small office environment suggest caution should be used when operating many of the printer and filament combinations in poorly ventilated spaces or without the aid of combined gas and particle filtration systems.

These graphs show how much ultra-fine particles are emitted by these different filaments:

Emissions of Ultrafine Particles and Volatile Organic Compounds from Commercially Available Desktop Three-Dimensional Printers with Multiple Filaments 1

The paper was published in Environmental Science & Technology where you can find a copy of it.


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