The Method of Testing for Asbestos in Electronic and Electric Products through Polarizing Microscope and X-Ray Diffraction ()
1. Introduction
Asbestos is a generic term for natural fibrous silicon-based minerals, which are generally divided into the two major categories of chrysotile and amphibole asbestos, and are extensively applied, more importantly in such sectors as manufacturing automobiles, tractors, chemical industrial equipment, and electric equipment [1]. As scientific research has indicated, asbestos fiber has a harmful effect on human health. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has announced that asbestos is a Class A carcinogen. Because of this, products containing asbestos are prohibited from being imported to such countries as the US (EPA), European Union (Appendix XVII in REACH), Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Thailand, and Australia. Moreover, many multinational companies such as SONY, DELL, Sharp, and IBM have also all clearly stated that the use of asbestos is not allowed in their products and raw materials [2] [3] [4] [5]. It is an issue of great concern to our country’s supervision organizations, manufacturers, and academic circles to work out the method of testing for asbestos in electronic and electric products, and avoid the harm from asbestos and the risk in trade.
The results from checking new standards with the Library of Standards of China National Institute of Standardization indicate that, currently, there is no applicable specification available in our country for the method of determining the asbestos in electronic and electric products.
2. Experiment
2.1. Abstract of Determination Method
After pretreatment, specimens are made suitable for analytic use. Results of test are obtained after observation with polarizing microscopes, and qualitative test results are made available after confirmation with X-ray diffractometers [6] [7].
If no fibrous particle is found after three potions of specimens (≥300 particles) are observed using stereomicroscopes, it will be determined that no asbestos is observed. If there is the existence of fibrous particles, a further test will be done using polarizing microscopes. If the fibrous particles are not asbestos fibers after the observation through polarizing microscopes, it will be determined that no asbestos is observed. If the fibrous particles observed through polarizing microscopes have all the optical characteristics of a certain type of asbestos, further confirmation will be made using X-ray diffractometers. If diffraction peaks characteristic of asbestos are found during the test based on X-ray diffraction, asbestos will have been observed. Otherwise, no asbestos has been observed (as shown in Figure 1).
2.2. Pretreatment of Specimens
Break up specimens to appropriate size in an appropriate way. Take out about 5 g of broken specimens and put them into a crucible, before placing it in a muffle furnace. Incinerate them for 1 h at 450˚C ± 10˚C, and remove organic substances. Take out the crucible and place it in a dryer to cool down until it reaches the room temperature. Then grind up the incinerated specimens in an agate mortar, and sift them through a metallic sieve in which the openings are 425 μm - 500 μm in diameter.
2.3. Initial Screening under Stereomicroscopes
Place under a stereomicroscope the specimens carried by a sheet of glass, and observe them to see if there is any fibrous particle. If any fibrous particle exists,
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Figure 1. The determination procedure with polarizing microscopes and X-ray diffraction.
observe the appearance and physical features of it, and record its fibrous characteristics.
Take at least three portions of the specimens (≥300 particles) for observation. If no fibrous particle is found among three portions of the specimens, it will be determined that the specimens test negative for asbestos. If any fibrous particle exists, further test will be made with the help of a polarizing microscope.
2.4. Test under Polarizing Microscopes
Initially determine the possible fiber type, according to the fibrous characteristics observed under a stereomicroscope, and apply drops of the oil with an appropriate refractivity (oil of certain refractive index (immersion oil): 1) immersion oil’s refractivity
= 1.550 for chrysotile; 2) immersion oil’s refractivity
= 1.700 for crocidolite; 3) immersion oil’s refractivity
= 1.670 or 1.680 for amosite; 4) immersion oil’s refractivity
= 1.605 for anthophyllite and tremolite; 5) immersion oil’s refractivity
= 1.640 or 1.630 for actinolite ). Cover them with a sheet of glass, so as to immerse the specimens. Place them under a polarizing microscope to observe the optical characteristics of the fiber (elongation, birefringence, extinction, pleochroism, and discrete dyeing property). Take more portions of specimens if unable to determine the possible fiber types, and apply the oil of different refractive indexes for observation. See Table 1 for the optical characteristics showed by various types of asbestos in the oil of relevant refractive indexes under a polarizing microscope. If the fiber under observation has all the optical features of a certain type of asbestos, it will be initially determined that the fiber under observation is the asbestos fiber of this type, and further confirmation will be made using X-ray diffractometers. Otherwise, it will be determined that the fiber under observation is not asbestos fiber particles, and no asbestos has been found in the specimens.
At least three portions are observed for each specimen.
2.5. Confirmation with X-Ray Diffraction
Place the specimens on the holder, and press them so as to make them flat. Determine whether the diffraction peaks characteristic of asbestos exist, under the analytic conditions for X-ray diffraction. Repeat the same test for three times. If any diffraction peak characteristic of asbestos is found during any of the three tests, it will be determined that asbestos is observed. If no diffraction peak characteristic of asbestos is found, it will be determined that no asbestos is observed [7].
3. Results and Discussion
Results from Testing for the Standard Substances in 6 Types of Asbestos
Figure 2 is the image showing the characteristic features of the standard substances in 6 types of asbestos observed under a polarizing microscope.
Fill the holder of the X-ray diffractometer evenly with analytic specimens. Determine whether the diffraction peaks characteristic of asbestos exist in the specimens for qualitative analysis, under the analytic conditions for X-ray diffractometer (see Table 2), and repeat the test for three times.
Determine whether the diffraction peaks characteristic of asbestos exist in the specimens for qualitative analysis, and repeat the test for three times in a row. If any diffraction peak characteristic of asbestos is found during any of the three
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Table 1. The optical features of different types of asbestos fiber under a polarizing microscope.
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Table 2. Conditions for qualitative analysis with X-ray diffraction device.
tests, it will be determined that asbestos exists. If no diffraction peak characteristic of asbestos is found, it will be determined that no asbestos exist.
4. Conclusion
The forms of 6 types of asbestos were worked out in this paper, including chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite, anthophylite, tremolite, and actinolite asbestos, the optical features and characteristic features of these types of asbestos fiber under a polarizing microscope were shown. Based on the combination of polarizing microscope and X-ray diffraction, the method of testing for asbestos in electronic and electric products has been obtained. In this method, polarizing microscope is used to initially screen specimens. The specimens having the particles similar to asbestos fibers are identified for the second time through the application of X-ray diffraction, largely enhancing the accuracy and reliability of the test.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support provided for this research work by Fund: National key R & D program of China (2017YFF0210703).