Carbon black has been a key ingredient in high-performance composites, such as tire rubber, for over a hundred years. This reinforcing filler increases rubber rigidity and reduces tire wear, among many other useful effects. New nanomaterials, such as graphene and carbon nanotubes, may bring new performance improvements. However, their usefulness cannot be evaluated unless worker safety is assured by demonstrating that the nanoparticles are not released at harmful concentrations during manufacture and testing. Here, we present a flexible, general method for the quantitative evaluation of nanoparticle release from rubber nanocomposites. We evaluate manufacturing steps such as powder handling, uncured rubber milling, and curing. We also evaluate particle emission during cured rubber abrasion as an aggressive example of the testing rubber goods are subjected to. We quantify released nanoparticle concentrations for clay nanoparticles, graphene-like materials, and carbon nanotubes. We also describe a mechanistic framework based on the balance of adhesive and kinetic energies, which helps understand when nanoparticles are or are not released. This method contributes to the assessment of workers’ exposure to nanoparticles during the various stages of the industrial process, which is an essential step in managing the risk associated with the use of nanomaterials in manufacturing.

一百多年来，炭黑一直是高性能复合材料（例如轮胎橡胶）的关键成分。除了许多其他有用的效果外，这种增强填料还可以提高橡胶的硬度并减少轮胎的磨损。诸如石墨烯和碳纳米管的新型纳米材料可能带来新的性能改进。但是，除非通过证明纳米粒子在制造和测试过程中不会以有害浓度释放来确保工人安全，否则无法评估其用途。在这里，我们提出了一种灵活，通用的方法，用于定量评估橡胶纳米复合材料释放的纳米颗粒。我们评估制造步骤，例如粉末处理，未硫化的橡胶研磨和固化。我们还评估了硫化橡胶磨损过程中的颗粒排放情况，以此作为测试橡胶产品所要经受的攻击性例子。我们对粘土纳米颗粒，类石墨烯材料和碳纳米管释放的纳米颗粒浓度进行了定量。我们还描述了一种基于粘合剂和动能平衡的机制框架，有助于理解何时释放或不释放纳米颗粒。该方法有助于评估工人在工业过程的各个阶段所接触的纳米颗粒，这是管理与制造中使用纳米材料相关的风险的重要步骤。我们还描述了一种基于粘合剂和动能平衡的机制框架，有助于理解何时释放或不释放纳米颗粒。该方法有助于评估工人在工业过程的各个阶段所接触的纳米颗粒，这是管理与制造中使用纳米材料相关的风险的重要步骤。我们还描述了一种基于粘合剂和动能平衡的机制框架，有助于理解何时释放或不释放纳米颗粒。该方法有助于评估工人在工业过程的各个阶段所接触的纳米颗粒，这是管理与制造中使用纳米材料相关的风险的重要步骤。