Composite-fiber hazards. Final report

Technical Report · Sat Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:5316908

Seibert, J F

This report reviews potential health hazards from carbon/graphite and boron composite materials used in aircraft. Carbon and boron fibers are used as reinforcement in an epoxy matrix to form composite material aircraft parts. There is increasing concern over the potential health effects of these fibers released during sanding and grinding of composite parts in structural repair shops, and during clean up operations following aircraft accidents involving fire and/or breakage of composite parts. With the demise of the term 'CORKER,' hazards from carbon composite materials were deemphasized. However, the CORKER annotation only addressed the electrical shorting hazards from airborne fibers following a fire and did not examine in detail potential health effects. Maintenance workers fear that carbon fibers are carcinogens. A review of the current literature on carbon fiber indicates it is relatively inert. Industrial hygiene evaluations should include sampling for total dust and comparing the levels to the ACGIH TLV for nuisance dust. Occupational health efforts should focus on problems with contact dermatitis from the resins systems and toxic effects of resin hardeners.

• Research Organization: Air Force Occupational and Environmental Health Lab., Brooks AFB, TX (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5316908
• Report Number(s): AD-A-233924/0/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
HEALTH HAZARDS
PERSONNEL
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY
AIR POLLUTION
AIRCRAFT
AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS
BORON
CARBON
CARBON FIBERS
CARCINOGENS
FIBERGLASS
FIBERS
GRAPHITE
GRINDING
HARDENING
MAINTENANCE
MATRIX MATERIALS
POLYMERS
SAMPLING
TOXICITY
COMMINUTION
ELEMENTAL MINERALS
ELEMENTS
HAZARDS
INDUSTRY
MACHINING
MATERIALS
MINERALS
NONMETALS
POLLUTION
SAFETY
SEMIMETALS
570000* - Health & Safety