ANTISTATIC AGENT

STATIC ELECTRICITY

The static is caused by the transfer of

electrons across surfaces brought into
frictional contact with each other


When they are separated,
the distribution of
electrons between the
two is often unequal.

Both surfaces acquire
electrical charges, with
one having a surfeit of
electrons, and the other a
deficit
Causes of static electricity


The static is caused by the transfer of electrons across surfaces brought into frictional contact
with each other

As long as the two surfaces are in con- tact, there is no problem. But when they are separated,
the distribution of electrons between the two is often unequal

both surfaces acquire electrical charges, with one having a surfeit of electrons, and the other a
deficit

There is no change within the body of the material, it is purely a surface effect
Is static electricity a problem ?

Static electricity is a considerable problem in plastics, because with very few exceptions
plastics are highly insulating

Even picking up a plastics bag can generate several thousand volts if the humidity is low
enough

Static electricity can build up in clouds. This can cause a huge spark to form between the
ground and the cloud. A spark could ignite the gases and cause an explosion. It is dangerous
when you touch something with a large electric charge on it.

Doesn’t affect human. As our body is composed largely of water and water is an inefficient
conductor of electricity, especially in amounts this small. Not that electricity can't hurt or kill
you.
How to avoid static electricity?

Static electricity can be minimized or even completely eliminated by the use of
appropriate antistatic additives, such as surfactants reducing the polarization of plastics

Antistatic agents reduce the surface resistivity of materials, which causes the charge to
dissipate, and as a result reduces the occurrence of the adverse phenomenon

Use a humidifier

Treat your carpets with an anti-static chemical

Carry around something metal
 COUNTER MEASURES

render the surface electrically
conducting

contain an internal additive or possess
a surface coating which renders the
surface sufficiently conductive to
dissipate the static electricity
 ANTISTAIC AGENT


Antistatic agents are added to polymers to minimize the build-up of static
electricity/electric charge in plastic materials.


Common antistatic agents are based on long-chain aliphatic amines and amides, quaternary
ammonium esters of phosphoric acid, polyethylene glycol esters
 INTERNAL ANTISTATIC AGENTS

They do not alter the physical and mechanical
properties

Internal antistatic agents, other than carbon
black, aluminium powder and poly pyrrole,

Cost is low compared with other additives do not survive temperatures much higher

They do not prevent a plastics component from than 180°C
being transparent or affect its colour.

Even if they are removed from the surface by various means, such as erosion, there is more
additive available within the polymer to migrate and replace what was lost
 External surface, antistatic agents can be applied in the form of a liquid solution in water or
an alcohol, but to survive they must resist being removed by the processing or handling
operations
 INTERNAL ANTISTATIC AGENTS
 Internal antistatic agents are compounded into the plastics during or before the shaping stages.
 The rate of migration is important as, if it is too slow, it is not effective quickly enough, and
static builds up, and if it is too rapid, the surface characteristics of the article may be adversely
affected.
 The rate of migration can be reduced by other formulation constituents such as fillers.
 When it has reached the surface, the hydrophilic groups of the additive attract ambient
moisture, and this causes the electrical charge on the surface to be dissipated.
 INTERNAL ANTISTATIC AGENTS

 Polymeric antistatic agents have been employed in textile fibres.

 Ionically conductive copolyethers such as ethylene oxide/propylene oxide copolymers
and other similar polymers are examples.
 Polyoxyethylene derivatives with high electrical conductivities caused by proton
migration are not highly dependent on relative humidity and have found some use in
thermoplastics.
 SURFACTANTS

Cationic Surfactants
 Hydrophilic group with Positive charges

Anionic Surfactants
 Hydrophilic group with Negative charges


Non ionic Surfactants
 Hydrophilic group with No charges

Amphoteric Surfactants
 Hydrophilic group with both Positive and
Negative charges
 SURFACTANTS

Lubricants, which are added to reduce frictional forces during processing, also incidentally
reduce static build-up.

Any liquid of high dielectric constant should be an antistatic agent eg – Water


Cationic and anionic antistatic agents perform best in polar polymers

Fatty acid based amines can react with the chlorine in PVC

Non ionic anti stats are deployed in polyolefins, ABS and styrene polymers
 EXTERNAL ANTISTATIC AGENT

External or topical antistats are applied to the surface of a polymer

Techniques such as spraying, wiping, or dipping.

aqueous and/or alcoholic solution (1–2%) as a spray or dip

External antistats can be easily removed by contact with solvents or by
rubbing or wiping.
Disadvantage of antistatic agents

 In spite of their low addition .

 It is believed that some antistatic agents may negatively impact the activity of
olefin polymerization catalysts.
 They may also preclude the use of polyolefins in food, beverage and medical
packaging for the possibility to migrate outside the polymer.
How much protection required
 This depends on the application.
 Some products require very low surface resistivity.
 Sources of electromagnetic interference include natural phenomena and man-made devices
 Most plastics, before any antistatic treatment, have very high volume resistivities, of the order
of 1014 ohm cm, and surface resistivities of the order of 10 14 ohm/square,
 Completely effective EMI shielding requires volume resistivities lower than 10 ohm/cm, which
is rather beyond the values typically achievable with carbon black filler.
 Metal fillers can enable these values to be reached, although there may be side-effects such as
the abrasiveness of the metal particles.
 Surface resistivities need to be less than lo5 ohm/square for EM shielding.
How much protection required
 Static dissipative materials are an intermediate category, used where there is a need for surface
resistivities in the range 105-109 ohm/square.
 These values can be achieved using carbon black.
 They are relevant to products where static build-up causes arcing or short circuits. Ordinary
antistatic materials are in a still higher surface resistivity range, between 10 9 and 1014
ohm/square.
 carbon black is sometimes used as a pigment or as a UV stabilizer and will act incidentally as
an antistatic agent.
 PLASTIC REQUIRED ANTISTATIC AGENT

Polyolefins
 Glyceride
 Ethoxylated glycerol ether
 agents commonly used are liquids and
can be added by a master batch
method
 For electronic packaging need
antistatic additives at much higher
levels
 PLASTIC REQUIRED ANTISTATIC AGENT

PVC
 1-2% quaternary ammonium
compounds
 Unplasticized PVC
 2-4% ethoxylated alcohol or
alkoxylated fatty acid esters
 PLASTIC REQUIRED ANTISTATIC AGENT


ABS, cellulose acetate, and polycarbonate

High levels of epichlorhydrin copolymers have been recommended for use as antistatic agents
in both thermoplastics and thermosets

Ensure that the additive is chosen so that migration to the surface occurs at a sufficient rate

Glycerol derivatives and ethoxylated amines can be used
 COMPOUND USED

The internal additives used in plastics are the non-ionic surfactants, although some
cationic and anionic surfactants are also Employed

Examples of the non-ionic variety are the ethoxylated fatty alkylamines, the fatty
diethanolamines, and the mono- and di-glycerides.

The ethoxylated fatty alkylamines are used in hydrocarbon-rich plastics such as the
polyolefins and in some of the styrenated polymers.

Certain non-ionic antistatic agents such as glycerol monostearate do not have the
persistence associated with the ethoxylated fatty alkylamines.
 COMPOUND USED

Examples of cationic antistatic agents include the long chain quaternary ammonium
and sulfonium alkyl salts such as chlorides, nitrates and methosulfates.

They are used in high concentrations in polar polymers such as PVC, and also in
various styrene based polymers.

Anionic antistats are usually alkali salts of alkyl phosphonic, sulfonic or
dithiocarbamic acids.

Examples of their application are the styrene polymers, and the saturated
(thermoplastic) polyesters.
 APPLICATION

Automotive industries 
Electronic industries
 Fuel system  Packaging of components
 Electrical and electronic parts  Flooring
 Engine components  Furniture

The chemical process equipment industry needs to eliminate static discharge because of
the widespread use of flammable liquids and gases, and since the industry uses plastics
or reinforced plastics extensively
 APPLICATION
Some applications have strict requirements for very good static dissipation performance, low
surface resistivity

ABS 
Polyolefins
 Business machine  Packaging
 Automotive parts  Pipes
 Domestic appliance  Storage bins and foam

Polyamides 
PVC
 Carpets  Conveyor belts
 Business machine internal parts  Packaging
 packaging  Floor
 EFFECTIVENESS
 The effectiveness of antistatic agents can be measured by observing the rate of decay of surface
charge on a plastics article.

 In the case of high density polyethylene, for example, most of the measurable surface charge on
the sample immediately after moulding should have dissipated under ambient conditions within
7 days, but the rate of decline will be dependent on a large number of factors.

 Migration rate can depend on the molecular weight of the additive as well as on its
compatibility with the polymer. If migration rate is too high, higher molecular weight
substances of a similar type can be used.

 It is difficult to find effective antistatic agents for engineering thermoplastics, because of the
high processing temperatures.
 APPLICATION
Antistatic bag Conveyor belt
Fact

In 1937, static electricity caused the fire
of the largest Hindenburg airship in the
history of Germany. It contained 200,000
m3 of flammable hydrogen. During the
landing, most likely due to an electric
spark, the gas ignited, causing the airship
to burn down completely.

Reference

Polymer-Plastics Additives.pdf( unit5/additives)

https://polymer-additives.specialchem.com/selection-guide/antistatic-agents-for-polymers
 https://www.products.pcc.eu/en/blog/antistatic-agents-additives-for-plastics-that-reduce-th
e-effects-of-static-electricity/

https://www.explainthatstuff.com/howantistaticcoatingswork.html

https://www.ampacet.com/faqs/antistats-types-attributes-test-standards

By
Ramanan
&
Kishen Deepak