Papers by Jacqueline Isaacs
Carbon nanotubes (CNT) have significant potential to enhance the microelectronics industry. Howev... more Carbon nanotubes (CNT) have significant potential to enhance the microelectronics industry. However, prior to full-scale manufacturing of CNT products, the environmental and economic impacts of such an implementation must be assessed. Using life cycle assessment (LCA) techniques, environmental attributes are assessed for fabricating CNT transistors and CNT-polymer composites used for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. Manufacturing cost will also be determined for these using process-based technical cost modeling. Such information on both cost and environmental impacts will enable more responsible nanomanufacturing.
Procedia CIRP, 2018
Interest in environmental benefits and impacts of products continues to evolve. Direct macro-crea... more Interest in environmental benefits and impacts of products continues to evolve. Direct macro-creation of pieces, parts, and components assembled into products is an essential final step, requiring energy and chemical profiles. The UPLCI effort is a multi-university effort to create reusable, quantitative descriptions of the energy/mass efficiencies of each unit process step (e.g. drilling, joining, surface coating, etc.) that work together to take materials as inputs and achieve the final manufacturing step to products (industry, consumer, and military). The majority of all macro-shape construction have been catalogued in taxonomies as 100-120 separate unit processes. The UPLCI effort has completed 31 unit processes and recently undertook a trial application. An aviation component (jet fuel nozzle) was analyzed using the UPLCI approach. It had 14 subassemblies, required 67 separate unit processes, and involved 4 different materials. This paper describes the results and important lessons learned from the UPLCI industrial process approach to life cycle analysis.
Polymer Engineering and Science, Aug 4, 2017
Sustainable manufacturing processes are becoming more important in industrial practice. A critica... more Sustainable manufacturing processes are becoming more important in industrial practice. A critical part of the manufacturing process is understanding the recycling behavior of nanocomposite materials, particularly as more recycled plastic nanocomposites are entering the market for a variety of different applications. A common method to recycle thermoplastic composites is by melting and remolding, which often leads to decreased mechanical properties. This work was conducted to investigate the effect of nanofillers on the recycling behavior and structure-property relationships of carbon nanotube (CNT)-filled polycarbonate (PC). Materials were recycled by repeated injection molding and granulating up to twenty cycles. The effect of recycling on chemical, rheological and mechanical properties was investigated. The results indicated a general decrease in melt viscosity and mechanical properties (with the exception of s Modulus). The CNT-filled PC shows less resistance to recycling compared to neat PC
Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, 2016
In this study, the characteristics of airborne particles generated during injection molding and g... more In this study, the characteristics of airborne particles generated during injection molding and grinding processes of carbon nanotube reinforced polycarbonate composites (CNT-PC) were investigated. Particle number concentration, size distribution, and morphology of particles emitted from the processes were determined using real-time particle sizers and transmission electron microscopy. The air samples near the operator's breathing zone were collected on filters and analyzed using scanning electron microscope for particle morphology and respirable fiber count. Processing and grinding during recycling of CNT-PC released airborne nanoparticles (NPs) with a geometric mean (GM) particle concentration from 4.7 × 10(3) to 1.7 × 10(6) particles/cm(3). The ratios of the GM particle concentration measured during the injection molding process with exhaust ventilation relative to background were up to 1.3 (loading), 1.9 (melting), and 1.4 (molding), and 101.4 for grinding process without exhaust ventilation, suggesting substantial NP exposures during these processes. The estimated mass concentration was in the range of 1.6-95.2 μg/m(3). Diverse particle morphologies, including NPs, NP agglomerates, particles with embedded or protruding CNTs and fibers, were observed. No free CNTs were found during any of the investigated processes. The breathing zone respirable fiber concentration during the grinding process ranged from non-detectable to 0.13 fiber/cm(3). No evidence was found that the emissions were affected by the number of recycling cycles. Institution of exposure controls is recommended during these processes to limit exposures to airborne NPs and CNT-containing fibers.Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology advance online publication, 18 May 2016; doi:10.1038/jes.2016.26.
Environ. Sci.: Nano, 2016
With production of nanocomposites, the product life cycle, including recycling, becomes critical.
Environmental Science & Technology, 2014
As for any emerging technology, it is critical to assess potential life cycle impacts prior to wi... more As for any emerging technology, it is critical to assess potential life cycle impacts prior to widespread adoption to prevent future unintended consequences. The subject of this life cycle study is a carbon nanotube-enabled chemical gas sensor, which is a highly complex, low nanomaterialconcentration application with the potential to impart significant human health benefits upon implementation. Thus, the net lifecycle trade-offs are quantified using an impact-benefit ratio (IBR) approach proposed herein, where an IBR < 1 indicates that the downstream benefits outweigh the upstream impacts. The cradle-to-gate assessment results indicate that the midpoint impacts associated with producing CNTs are marginal compared with those associated with the other manufacturing stages. The cumulative upstream impacts are further aggregated to units of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) using ReCiPe end point analysis method and quantitatively compared with the potential downstream DALY benefits, as lives saved, during the use phase. The approach presented in this study provides a guiding framework and quantitative method intended to encourage the development of nanoenabled products that have the potential to realize a net environmental, health, or societal benefit.
MRS Proceedings, 2009
This paper reports on a multi-faceted evaluation of science communication workshops conducted dur... more This paper reports on a multi-faceted evaluation of science communication workshops conducted during the summer of 2009 with Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) students from the Center for High-rate Nanomanufacturing and the Harvard University School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, in a partnership between the Museum of Science, Boston Strategic Projects department and faculty from the Nanoscale Science and Engineering Centers headquartered at Harvard and at Northeastern Universities. The workshops were shown to (1) increase student interest in exploring and understanding the broader impacts of research, and (2) increase student knowledge, confidence and practice of communication skills for both professional and non-professional audiences.
Instrumentation, Metrology, and Standards for Nanomanufacturing, Optics, and Semiconductors VI, 2012
ABSTRACT The transfer of nanoscience accomplishments into commercial products is hindered by the ... more ABSTRACT The transfer of nanoscience accomplishments into commercial products is hindered by the lack of understanding of barriers to nanoscale manufacturing. We have developed a number of nanomanufacturing processes that leverage available high-rate plastics fabrication technologies. These processes include directed assembly of a variety of nanoelements, such as nanoparticles and nanotubes, which are then transferred onto a polymer substrate for the fabrication of conformal/flexible electronic materials, among other applications. These assembly processes utilize both electric fields and/or chemical functionalization. Conducting polymers and carbon nanotubes have been successfully transferred to a polymer substrate in times less than 5 minutes, which is commercially relevant and can be utilized in a continuous (reel to reel/roll to roll) process. Other processes include continuous high volume mixing of nanoelements (CNTs, etc) into polymers, multi-layer extrusion and 3D injection molding of polymer structures. These nanomanufacturing processes can be used for wide range of applications, including EMI shielding, flexible electronics, structural materials, and novel sensors (specifically for chem/bio detection). Current techniques to characterize the quality and efficacy of the processes are quite slow. Moreover, the instrumentation and metrology needs for these manufacturing processes are varied and challenging. Novel, rapid, in-line metrology to enable the commercialization of these processes is critically needed. This talk will explore the necessary measurement needs for polymer based nanomanufacturing processes for both step and continuous (reel to reel/roll to roll) processes.
Risk analysis : an official publication of the Society for Risk Analysis, Aug 16, 2016
Despite the many touted benefits of nanomaterials, concerns remain about their possible environme... more Despite the many touted benefits of nanomaterials, concerns remain about their possible environmental, health, and safety (EHS) risks in terms of their toxicity, long-term accumulation effects, or dose-response relationships. The published studies on EHS risks of nanomaterials have increased significantly over the past decade and half, with most focused on nanotoxicology. Researchers are still learning about health consequences of nanomaterials and how to make environmentally responsible decisions regarding their production. This article characterizes the scientific literature on nano-EHS risk analysis to map the state-of-the-art developments in this field and chart guidance for the future directions. First, an analysis of keyword co-occurrence networks is investigated for nano-EHS literature published in the past decade to identify the intellectual turning points and research trends in nanorisk analysis studies. The exposure groups targeted in emerging nano-EHS studies are also ass...
Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 2013
ABSTRACT New nanomanufacturing technologies, although still in research labs, present a great opp... more ABSTRACT New nanomanufacturing technologies, although still in research labs, present a great opportunity to drastically reduce the cost of making nanostructures on a large scale and at high-rates. Such new bottom-up directed assembly-based approaches involve adding materials selectively thereby both reducing waste and the number of required processes. Directed assembly-based processes are conducted at room pressure and temperatures which significantly reduces the cost of nanomanufacturing equipment and tools, ensuring long-term sustainability by reducing energy, consumables, and waste costs. This paradigm shift in nanomanufacturing will unleash not only a wave of creativity in sustainable nanomanufacturing but lessons learnt along the way can be used in various other sectors. Along with the exquisite technological promise that nanotechnology holds, nano-enabled products are heralded as a means for energy and resource reduction, resulting in potential manufacturing cost reductions and further, for potential improvements to environmental remediation. Sustainable nanomanufacturing will, by dramatically lowering current nanomanufacturing barriers, spur innovation, and the creation of entirely new industries by leveling the playing and ultimately leading to the democratization of nanomanufacturing.
Nanotechnology shows great potential for a wide range of applications including electronics, mate... more Nanotechnology shows great potential for a wide range of applications including electronics, materials, energy, and biomedicine. Substantial investment has been afforded to nanotechnology research and development worldwide by governments and corporations. To date, however, there are a very limited number of publications regarding the environmental impacts of nanotechnology processes or products. In particular, there is significant uncertainty over the health effects and handling of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). With unique electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties, CNTs are desirable in industrial applications such as a SWNT switch for nonvolatile memory devices, biosensors, SWNT batteries, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. The market for these applications is projected to exceed $1.9 billion by 2010. Some studies report that single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) appear to damage lung tissue in mice, whereas other studies state that there is little detrimental effec...
2006 Annual Conference & Exposition Proceedings
in Boston, MA. She is responsible for the education and outreach activities as well as research o... more in Boston, MA. She is responsible for the education and outreach activities as well as research on societal implications for the NSF-sponsored Center for High-rate Nanomanufacturing (CHN), a collaborative Center among NU, UML and UNH. Her research focuses on economic and environmental assessment of manufacturing.
2005 Annual Conference Proceedings
2008 Annual Conference & Exposition Proceedings
in Boston, MA. At the Northeastern location of CHN, she is responsible for education and outreach... more in Boston, MA. At the Northeastern location of CHN, she is responsible for education and outreach activities as well as research on societal implications. Her research focuses on economic and environmental assessment of manufacturing.
2008 Annual Conference & Exposition Proceedings
in Boston, MA. Her research focuses on economic and environmental assessment of manufacturing. In... more in Boston, MA. Her research focuses on economic and environmental assessment of manufacturing. Initial development of Shortfall resulted from her CAREER grant funded by the National Science Foundation (DMI-9734054), and subsequent NSF funding (DMI-0537056) to continue its development.
2008 Annual Conference & Exposition Proceedings
Hampshire. She leads the education and outreach activities for CHN and the REU Summer Program at ... more Hampshire. She leads the education and outreach activities for CHN and the REU Summer Program at UML. Her research focuses on plastics processing, particularly at the micro and nanoscales and their application to high-rate nanomanufacturing.
Procedia CIRP, 2019
In today's business environment, the trend towards more product variety and customization is unbr... more In today's business environment, the trend towards more product variety and customization is unbroken. Due to this development, the need of agile and reconfigurable production systems emerged to cope with various products and product families. To design and optimize production systems as well as to choose the optimal product matches, product analysis methods are needed. Indeed, most of the known methods aim to analyze a product or one product family on the physical level. Different product families, however, may differ largely in terms of the number and nature of components. This fact impedes an efficient comparison and choice of appropriate product family combinations for the production system. A new methodology is proposed to analyze existing products in view of their functional and physical architecture. The aim is to cluster these products in new assembly oriented product families for the optimization of existing assembly lines and the creation of future reconfigurable assembly systems. Based on Datum Flow Chain, the physical structure of the products is analyzed. Functional subassemblies are identified, and a functional analysis is performed. Moreover, a hybrid functional and physical architecture graph (HyFPAG) is the output which depicts the similarity between product families by providing design support to both, production system planners and product designers. An illustrative example of a nail-clipper is used to explain the proposed methodology. An industrial case study on two product families of steering columns of thyssenkrupp Presta France is then carried out to give a first industrial evaluation of the proposed approach.
Environ. Sci.: Nano, 2016
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Papers by Jacqueline Isaacs