Characterization of manufactured nanoparticles at workplace

Abstract

French government has launched a dedicated program on nanotechnologies in May 2009. One of the topics was to develop measurements and characterisations at workplace, with the aim of getting the experience over 100 of them, either in research centres, universities and industries. At this time, about 80 have been realized. The methodology is based on the study of nanoparticles emission, during the whole duration of the process and / or operation, in real time, by comparison between background level and process ones. Parameters such as number of particles, size and developed surface are obtained. Shape, agglomerate state and chemical composition are obtained by further microscopy analysis. Currently, dustiness and surface state are not characterized and future developments are needed. It has to be pointed out that, at this time, and thanks to very various scenarios met, data collected from this program lead in a field database already used in different European research programs.