Challenges in Quantifying Tire Wear Particle Emissions on an Outer Drum Test Bed

Tire wear is a significant source of microplastics and airborne particulate matter, contributing to environmental pollution and posing health risks. This study aims to develop a reliable method for quantifying tire wear and TWP on an outer drum test bed while achieving realistic wear rates. A degumming method using talcum powder was applied to prevent tire adhesion, which significantly increased wear rates but introduced complications in particle measurements. To address this, a flow-optimized enclosure was implemented to minimize background emissions. Particle emissions were quantified using APCs, PM samplers, and an ELPI+. The results underscore the challenge of distinguishing between TWP and talcum powder contributions. To estimate the percentage of airborne particle mass, a novel method was employed that calculates the RGB values of images of PM filters. This method estimates the blackening of the filter to determine the amount of TWP present. Size distribution analysis revealed that talcum particles are coarser than TWP, exhibiting a bimodal size distribution. This differentiation is crucial for accurate quantification of TWP in the presence of talcum powder.

The study highlights the importance of developing precise methods for measuring tire wear and its environmental impact. The findings provide valuable insights into the complexities of particle measurement and the need for improved techniques to accurately assess the contribution of tire wear to airborne particulate matter.