Quantifying mechanical abrasion of AgNP nanocomposites: influence of AgNP content on abrasion products and rate of microplastic production

Abstract

Nanomaterials are used in polymer composites to enhance plastic products' properties. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are added to composites for their antimicrobial and fungicidal properties. Polyethylene terephthalate glycol polymer (PETG) AgNP composite test objects with AgNP mass fraction of 0.5% and 2% were abraded using NIST SP 1200-30 abrasion protocol to find the microplastic (MP) abrasion rates of these nanocomposites over various power inputs. Results showed that the abrasion rate of composite depended on the polymer matrix rather than on the AgNP content in the product. However, AgNPs affected the size and physico-chemical properties and surface qualities of particles produced. Surface attached and protuberant AgNPs were found on the abraded particles. As the mass fraction of nanomaterial increased in the composite, the size range of abraded composite particles produced during abrasion decreased.