Evaluation of the Partector 2 Pro for measuring ultrafine particles emitted from 3D printing

Auteurs

• Maryem Sabri, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal; Centre de recherche en santé publiqueFollow
• Loïc Wingert, Centre de recherche en santé publique; Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST)Follow
• Maximilien Debia, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal; Centre de recherche en santé publiqueFollow
• Isabelle Valois, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal; Centre de recherche en santé publiqueFollow
• Stéphane Hallé, Department of Mechanical Engineering, École de Technologie SupérieureFollow
• Ludwig Vinches, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal; Centre de recherche en santé publiqueFollow

ORCID

Maryem Sabri : 0009-0004-8380-0675

Loïc Wingert : 0000-0002-5967-9594

Maximilien Debia : 0000-0002-5533-5460

Stéphane Hallé : 0000-0001-8215-465X

Ludwig Vinches : 0000-0002-8430-2166

Type de document

Études primaires

Année de publication

2026

Langue

Anglais

Titre de la revue

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene

Résumé

Additive manufacturing (3D printing) processes emit ultrafine particles (UFPs), raising concerns regarding occupational exposures and worker health. Portable diffusion-charging instruments may facilitate personal exposure monitoring; however, their performance under occupational 3D printing conditions remains insufficiently characterized. This study evaluated the Partector 2 Pro (Naneos GmbH, Windisch, Switzerland) against reference instruments during controlled printing of four commonly used thermoplastic filaments: polylactic acid (PLA), polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU/S-Flex), and nylon. Experiments were conducted in a wind tunnel to ensure stable emission conditions. Total particle number concentrations measured by the Partector 2 Pro were compared with those obtained from a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS) and a condensation particle counter (CPC), while particle size percentiles (D10 to D95) from the Partector 2 Pro were compared with those from the SMPS. For comparisons of concentrations, strong agreement was observed across all materials, with regression slopes ranging from 0.88 to 1.05 and Pearson’s correlation coefficients higher than 0.96. Mean deviations ranged from −9.6% to +6.2%, remaining well within the manufacturer’s stated ±30% accuracy specification. For comparisons of particle size metrics, the Partector 2 Pro systematically underestimated mobility diameters (slopes 0.82 to 0.90; r = 0.98 to 0.99). The magnitude of deviations was size-dependent, ranging from −27.0% to +7.5% for the smallest particles (D10), −28.3% to −7.3% for intermediate particles (D25 through D75), and −17.6% to −7.9% for the largest particles (D95). Overall, the Partector 2 Pro demonstrated reliable performance for real-time UFP number concentration monitoring during 3D printing. These results support its applicability for occupational exposure assessment and workplace surveillance in additive manufacturing settings.

Hyperlien

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15459624.2026.2724020

Mots-clés

Impression 3D, 3D printing, Essai du matériel, Equipment testing, Nanoparticule, Nanoparticle

Numéro de projet IRSST

2024-0023

Citation recommandée

Sabri, M., Wingert, L., Debia, M., Valois, I., Hallé, S. et Vinches, L. (2026). Evaluation of the Partector 2 Pro for measuring ultrafine particles emitted from 3D printing. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene. https://doi.org/10.1080/15459624.2026.2724020