Overview
ISO/TS 12025:2021 provides a technical specification for quantifying nano-object release from powders by generating and measuring aerosols. The standard describes controlled aerosolization procedures to measure particle number concentration, size distribution and to derive mass concentration from aerosolized material. It covers the full size range of released particles - from nano‑objects (≈1–100 nm) through agglomerates and aggregates - and defines minimum requirements for test sample preparation, protocol development, measurement and reporting. Tribological abrasion methods and characterization of particle sizes within the powder are explicitly excluded.
Key topics and requirements
- Test stages: aerosol generation, transport and measurement - with emphasis on minimizing transport losses and agglomeration.
- Selection factors: choosing a generation method based on intended disturbance (handling to high‑energy dispersion) and material properties (porosity, cohesion, volume‑specific surface area).
- Sample preparation & safety: minimum requirements for preparing test samples and performing safety assessments before execution.
- Generation methods: guidance on dustiness and dispersing approaches for producing representative aerosols (annexes provide details and comparative considerations).
- Measurement techniques: measurement of nano‑object number concentration and size distribution using appropriate instrumentation (examples discussed include CPC, DEMC, DMAS) and deriving mass concentration from measured size/number data.
- Transport & sampling parameters: requirements to control sampling flows and distances to reduce losses and artefacts.
- Reporting: standardized reporting items to enable comparison between powders and test systems.
- Scope limits: not a replacement for dustiness testing or health‑risk assessment; tribological grinding/abrasion methods excluded.
Applications
- Comparing nano‑object release behavior of different powders under standardized aerosolization routines.
- Developing and validating laboratory test protocols for nanopowder aerosol generation and measurement.
- Supporting material scientists and product developers in evaluating powder handling risks and release potential.
- Supplying reproducible data for exposure assessment studies, workplace monitoring method development, and regulatory dossiers (while noting the specification itself is not a health‑risk assessment tool).
Who uses this standard
- Nanomaterials manufacturers and formulators
- Aerosol and particle measurement laboratories
- Occupational hygiene and safety professionals
- R&D teams in materials science and nanoengineering
- Test method developers and regulatory agencies
Related standards
- ISO/TS 80004‑1:2015, ISO/TS 80004‑2:2015 (vocabulary for nanotechnologies - core terms and nano‑objects) and referenced aerosol measurement standards (e.g., ISO 15900 series) are normative references supporting consistent terminology and measurement practice.
Keywords: ISO/TS 12025:2021, nanomaterials, nano‑object release, powders, aerosolization, aerosol measurement, particle number concentration, size distribution, CPC, DMAS, DEMC.