TY - JOUR
T1 - Particle size distributions and hygroscopic restructuring of ultrafine particles emitted during thermal spraying
AU - Salmatonidis, A.
AU - Viana, M.
AU - Biskos, G.
AU - Bezantakos, S.
N1 - Accepted Author Manuscript
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - We report measurements of the size, concentration, and hygroscopicity of ultrafine particles (UFPs) emitted during thermal spraying of ceramic coatings in an industrial setting. High concentrations (i.e., higher than 106 cm−3) of fractal-like UFPs were measured inside the spraying booths of the facility. The emitted UFPs were found to take up small amounts of water when exposed to elevated relative humidity (RH = 87%) within a Hygroscopic Tandem Differential Mobility Analyzer (HTDMA) system. The hygroscopicity of the sampled particles was distinguishably lower compared to those of the atmospheric background aerosol particles present in the breathing air. UFPs smaller than 90 nm that are produced by the thermal spraying process, exhibit hygroscopic factors less than unity in a systematic way. This behavior indicates that the particles were irregularly shaped at dry conditions, and that they underwent a shape change (i.e., restructuring) upon humidification inside the HTDMA. The fractal-like structure of process-emitted UFPs was further corroborated by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) conducted on samples collected at dry conditions on site.
AB - We report measurements of the size, concentration, and hygroscopicity of ultrafine particles (UFPs) emitted during thermal spraying of ceramic coatings in an industrial setting. High concentrations (i.e., higher than 106 cm−3) of fractal-like UFPs were measured inside the spraying booths of the facility. The emitted UFPs were found to take up small amounts of water when exposed to elevated relative humidity (RH = 87%) within a Hygroscopic Tandem Differential Mobility Analyzer (HTDMA) system. The hygroscopicity of the sampled particles was distinguishably lower compared to those of the atmospheric background aerosol particles present in the breathing air. UFPs smaller than 90 nm that are produced by the thermal spraying process, exhibit hygroscopic factors less than unity in a systematic way. This behavior indicates that the particles were irregularly shaped at dry conditions, and that they underwent a shape change (i.e., restructuring) upon humidification inside the HTDMA. The fractal-like structure of process-emitted UFPs was further corroborated by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) conducted on samples collected at dry conditions on site.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85087590703&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/02786826.2020.1784837
DO - 10.1080/02786826.2020.1784837
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85087590703
SN - 0278-6826
VL - 54
SP - 1359
EP - 1372
JO - Aerosol Science and Technology
JF - Aerosol Science and Technology
IS - 12
ER -