Characterization of Airborne Nanoparticle Released from Consumer Products

Published

December 1, 2014

Author(s)

Andrew Persily, Liang Chung J. Lo, Steven J. Nabinger, Dustin Poppendieck, Li Piin Sung

Abstract

Polymer and other coatings are commonly used to protect, enhance, or decorate wood, plastic and metal products used in homes and other buildings. Nanoparticles (i.e., particles having at least one dimension smaller than 100 nm) are increasingly being added to coating formulations to reduce such damage as well as to enhance their performance. Because of their small size and large surface area, nanomaterials may exhibit unique physical, chemical, and transport behaviors in the environment and in the human body. Research in recent years has indicated that nanoparticles may be potentially harmful to the environment and to human health. In order to better understand human exposure associated with the airborne release of such particles, materials with coatings containing nanoparticles was tested in a small environmental chamber in which coated materials were subjected to surface abrasion intended to simulate normal wear and tear. This report describes the experimental approach and the results obtained, which showed minimal airborne release of the nanoparticles in the tested coatings.

Citation

Technical Note (NIST TN) - 1843

Report Number

1843

NIST Pub Series

Technical Note (NIST TN)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.TN.1843

Local Download

Keywords

abrasion, coatings, consumer products, flooring, nanoparticles, paint

Citation

Persily, A. , Lo, L. , Nabinger, S. , Poppendieck, D. and Sung, L. (2014), Characterization of Airborne Nanoparticle Released from Consumer Products, Technical Note (NIST TN), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.TN.1843, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=915967 (Accessed October 8, 2025)