Evaluation of Chemical Aging on Carousel Properties Due to the COVID-19 Anti-Pandemic Measures at Airports

Abstract

The study's research question in the broader context of the fight against the pandemic is the impact of disinfectants on selected surfaces of materials used in air transport. The main scientific goal of this work was to verify the assumption that disinfectant solutions cause degradation of mechanical and physical properties, i.e., chemical aging, in samples from airport conveyors, and to determine the degree of change in the properties of the samples depending on the time spent in solution and on aging. The research methodology was developed based on the ISO 1817: 2011 standard, STN EN ISO 868, and the ISO 283 standard, and applied infrared spectroscopy, specifically the Attenuated Total Reflectance method. Research suggests that constant disinfection of baggage handling systems will require the replacement of carrying parts. Otherwise, there will be significant costly breakdowns (damage to luggage, interruption of its flow, delays/inability to check in the aircraft, and the resulting legal consequences). The longer the samples were left in the disinfectant solution, the higher and more uneven the degradation. The hardness of the samples changed after immersion but was not directly proportional to the change in tensile properties. During disinfection, chemical changes occurred, which varied in length and effect depending on the disinfection used.