HUMAN EXPOSURE &

ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS

Intro to Composite Material Design

Dr. Robert Jones

Leonardo D. Barbosa
OUTLINE
 (VOC’s) Volatile Organic Compounds

 (HAP’s) Hazardous Air Pollutants

 Regulations
 MACT & OSHA limitations

 Emission Reduction Techniques

 Q&A

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VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS

Figure 1: Ozone Creation by VOC’s & Nox [1] 3

VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
 Construction/Manufacturing

 Trees/Organic Materials

 Vehicle emissions

Figure 2: Relative amounts of U.S. VOC

emissions from anthropogenic and
biogenic sources [2]
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HAZARDOUS AIR POLLUTANTS
 Many VOC’s are further
classified as HAP’s which are
substances known to be
hazardous to human or
animal health

 Styrene
 Methyl Methacrylate
 Methylene Chloride

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VOC & HAP EFFECTS ON HEALTH

Figure 3: VOC/HAP Health Effects [3] 6

VOC EXPOSURE LIMITS
 OSHA limits exposure
based on :
(Styrene [c])
 8hr TWA: 50ppm

 STEL: 100ppm

 CEIL: 600ppm

Figure 4: Gas Monitor [5]

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MAXIMUM ACHIEVABLE CONTROL
TECHNOLOGY (MACT) STANDARDS
 HAP content regulated on a weight % basis
Table 1: VOC content limits [a]

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DILUENT MONOMERS
 Used to adjust resin
viscosity

 Styrene – Polyester Resins

 MMA – Acrylic Resins

 Methylene Chloride
Figure 5: Styrene Monomer

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DILUENT MONOMERS

Figure 6: Viscosity of Vinyl-Ester Blends [AA] 10

VOC/HAP EXPOSURE
 Manufacturing & Material Handling

Figure 7: Fiberglass Boat-building [4]

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REDUCING VOC/HAP EMISSIONS
 Emission Abatement Systems
 Polymer Molecular Weight
Reduction
 Styrene Suppression

 UV Curing

 Use low VOC resins

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VOC ABATEMENT SYSTEMS
 Decompose VOC’s

Figure 8: VOC Reduction RTO System 13

MOLECULAR WEIGHT REDUCTION
 Reduce MW so less
Styrene or other
monomer required to
achieve desired
viscosity
 Excess Glycol reduces
bond formation
 Adverse effects like increased water
absorption & lower HDT.
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STYRENE SUPPRESSION
 Suppressant migrates to surface and prevents
VOC’s from escaping during cure

 Wax or Wax-free suppressants

 Styrene forms part of finished product.

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UV CURING
 Photo-initiator catalyst added to resin

 Cures from outside in

Figure 9: UV curing Conveyor Belt 16

LOW VOC RESINS
 Use Resins with compliant VOC content

 Preferred method since it doesn’t require as

much investment

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HAZARDOUS WASTE
 FRC’s are considered
inert once cured

 Uncured scrap
material

 Resins past expiration Figure 10: Hazardous Waste

date

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Q&A
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REFERENCES
 [1] https://www.pca.state.mn.us/air/ozone

 [2] https://cfpub.epa.gov/roe/indicator_pdf.cfm?i=23

 [3] https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2017-
08/documents/md_volatile_organic_comp_fiberglass_boat_manuf_26_11_19_26-1_0.pdf

 [4] https://www.chromservis.eu/p/biogas-5000-analyzer-for-measurement-of-ch4-co2-o2-h2s-1000-ppm

 [5] https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/pel88/100-42.html

 [6] https://www.enviroequipment.com/blog/what-vocs-are-and-how-they-affect-you

 [7] https://www.compositesworld.com/articles/voc-reduction-strategies-for-lfrt-composites

 [8] https://www.compositesworld.com/articles/styrene-free-resins-more-than-emissions-reduction

 [9] https://www.ptonline.com/articles/composites-and-vocs-plain-and-fancy-ways-to-meet-emissions-rules

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