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This report investigates the effect of ventilation, spraying
conditions and paint formulation on pollution levels in paint
spray booths.
Five solvent-borne paints were evaluated by air-assisted or
airless spraying methods in a small dry backed spray booth
capable of varying air flow rates. The atmosphere in the booth
was analysed for solvent vapour and paint overspray.
It was found that an air flow rate of 0.8 ms-1 or
above is desirable and one of 0.3ms-1 should be
considered the minimum acceptable rate. Conventional spraying at
poor ventilation rates resulted in significant amounts of paint
overspray and exceeded the Occupational Exposure Standard (OES)
for dust and in some cases the OES for lead in air. However, with
airless spraying this was not the case.
The hazards of solvent vapour may be reduced by incorporating
higher boiling solvents with high OESs into the formulation.
Replacing some non-polar solvents with polar ones may also be
beneficial.
Measurements carried out in a commercial spray booth showed
that the ventilation rate was high enough to prevent the build up
of hazardous levels of gaseous pollutants.
Further Information
If you are interested in this, or any other project, please contact Richard Holman.
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