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.