Abstract
We describe a concept study in which the changes of concentration of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) compounds and styrene within a 3D printer enclosure during printing with different acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) filaments were monitored in real-time using a proton transfer reaction mass spectrometer and an electronic nose. The quantitative data on the concentration of the BTEX compounds, in particular the concentration of carcinogenic benzene, were then used as reference values for assessing the applicability of an array of low-cost electrochemical sensors in monitoring the exposure of the users of consumer-grade fused deposition modelling 3D printers to potentially harmful volatiles. Using multivariate statistical analysis and machine learning, it was possible to determine whether a set threshold limit value for the concentration of BTEX was exceeded with a 0.96 classification accuracy and within a timeframe of 5 min based on the responses of the chemical sensors.
Highlights
The additive manufacturing market is showing an impressive acceleration, with a 52% annual growth in 3D printer volume sales [1]
We propose to use proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PTR-TOFMS) for direct, highly sensitive, real-time determination of the emission of BTEX compounds
We describe a proof-of-concept study aimed at testing the applicability of an array of low-cost electrochemical sensors for indirect monitoring of the emission of BTEX
Summary
The additive manufacturing market is showing an impressive acceleration, with a 52% annual growth in 3D printer volume sales [1]. This is in part due to the increasing popularity of consumer-oriented desktop fused deposition modelling (FDM) 3D printers. The concept of “personal manufacturing” is gaining momentum due to the increased applicability of 3D printing in production and manufacturing [2,3]. The ability to produce a component with complex geometry in rapid, cost-effective way lowers the market entry barriers for small companies and start-ups, with applications in e.g., medicine, production of consumer goods, toys, and novelty items [4].
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