Computational Fluid Dynamics as a Digital Tool for Enhancing Safety Uptake in Advanced Manufacturing Environments Within a Safe-by-Design Strategy.

In modern manufacturing environments, pollution management is critical as exposure to harmful substances can cause serious health issues. This study presents a two-stage computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model to estimate the distribution of pollutants in indoor production spaces. In the first stage, the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) method was used to simulate airflow and temperature.

Integrating Exposure Assessment and Process Hazard Analysis: The Nano-Enabled 3D Printing Filament Extrusion Case.

Nanoparticles are being used in novel applications of the thermoplastics industry, including automotive parts, the sports industry and leisure and consumer goods, which can be produced nowadays through additive manufacturing. However, there is limited information on the health and safety aspects during the production of these new materials, mainly from recycled sources. This study covers the exposure assessment to nano- and micro-size particles emitted from the nanocomposites during the production of filaments for 3D printing through a compounding and extrusion pilot line using recycled (post-industrial) thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and recycled polyamide 12 (PA12), which have been also upcycled through reinforcement with iron oxide nanoparticles (FeO NPs), introducing matrix healing properties triggered by induction heating.

Occupational Safety Analysis for COVID-Instigated Repurposed Manufacturing Lines: Use of Nanomaterials in Injection Moulding.

The COVID-19 pandemic instigated massive production of critical medical supplies and personal protective equipment. Injection moulding (IM) is considered the most prominent thermoplastic part manufacturing technique, offering the use of a large variety of feedstocks and rapid production capacity. Within the context of the European Commission-funded imPURE project, the benefits of IM have been exploited in repurposed IM lines to accommodate the use of nanocomposites and introduce the unique properties of nanomaterials.