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NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FASHION TECHNOLOGY, MUMBAI

FABRIC SCIENCE-3
ASSIGNMENT-1
ANTI-STATIC FINISH

REFERENCES:
 Principle of Textile Finishing by Asim Kumar Roy Choudhary 
 https://www.slideshare.net/prateekNigamNift/7-anti-static-finish 
 https://textilelearner.blogspot.com/2013/08/antistatic-finish-mechanism-of.html#:~:text=Antistatic%20finish%20are%20used NAME:GITIKA TAYAL
%20for,power%20and%20a%20resultant%20shabbiness
DEPARTMENT:APPAREL
 https://www.textiletrick.com/2018/12/what-is-anti-static-finishing.html 
 Finishing- reference books of textile technologies by Pietro Bellini, Ferruccio Bonetti, Ester Franzetti, Giuseppe Rosace, Sergio Vago  
PRODUCTION(SEM-3)
 NPTEL ROLL NO.-BFT/19/79
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STATIC ELECTRICITY
It is the ability of the fibres to draw and retain electrical charges from air resulting in a build-up on the fabrics surface.

FABRICS WITH STATIC ELECTRICITY:

1.Produce shocks 3.Cause garments to cling together or to the wearer
2.Allowing dirt to adhere to the fabric muting colours of fabric

ANTI-STATIC FINISH
Antistatic finish is a chemical finish and are used for the removal of the unwanted effects of electrostatic charge produced during production
and wear of fabrics and knits. It is applied by means of an anti-static chemical treatment, the effect of which may be temporary or permanent.
Antistatic finishes involve chemical substances applied as wet finishes for the purpose of reducing or eliminating the static. These chemicals
absorb small amount of the moisture from the atmosphere, thus reducing the dryness of the fabric that reduces the static conduct.
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TYPES OF ANTI-STATIC FINISHES:

1. NON-DURABLE
• Most of the anti-stats have limited durability to washing and abrasion, so their main use will be as temporary processing aids to overcome
static problems encountered in the textile manufacturing process.
• This group of mostly hygroscopic materials includes: Surfactants, organic salts, Polyglycols, Esters of salts of alkyl-phosphonium acids.
• The general requirements for nondurable anti-stats are low volatility, low flammability, nonyellowing (heat stable), and noncorrosive and
low foaming.

2. DURABLE
• It is difficult to have antistatic properties that are durable under repeated launderings from a single-finish application. The basic principle is
to form a cross-linked polymer network containing hydrophilic groups. Polyamines react with polyglycols to make such structures. These
polymers can be formed prior to application to fabrics, or they can be formed in situ on the fibre surface after pad application.
• A variety of cross-linking approaches can be used; one based on polyepoxides. The larger the hydrophilic portion, the more moisture is
absorbed and the greater the antistatic effect obtained.
• Higher degrees of cross-linking will reduce the moisture absorption and subsequent swelling, but the antistatic effectiveness will decrease.
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MECHANISM OF ANTI-STATIC FINISHES
 During spinning, weaving and finishing of yarns and fabric, friction will be created by rubbing. Therefore, hydrophobic fibres tend to develop
static charge. As the cellulosic fibres are good conductors, they do not produce the static charge whereas the synthetic fibres which are not
good conductors, develop static charge. Due to this, the shocks are experienced while working on the machines and the fabric gets
entangled and soil attraction takes place which is also a problem. Therefore, the synthetic fibres are given a finish to prevent the static
charge generation. This is known as “Anti-static Finish”.
Anti-static property can be brought out by:
 Reducing the charge
 Making the fibre hydrophilic
 Increasing the surface conduction power
 The principle mechanisms of antistatic finishes are increasing the conductivity of fibre surface and reducing frictional forces through
lubrication. Increasing conductivity produces a lower charge build-up and a more rapid dissipation while increased lubricity decreases the
initial charge build-up.
 Antistatic agents that increase fibre surface conductivity form an intermediate layer on the surface. This layer is typically hygroscopic. The
increased moisture content leads to higher conductivity. The presence of mobile ions on the surface is very important for increased
conductivity. The effectiveness of hygroscopic antistatic finishes depends greatly on the humidity of the surrounding air during actual use;
lower humidity leads to lower conductivity (higher resistance) and greater problems with static electricity.
 Anti-stat PP is used on the polyester fabrics in 5-10gpl concentration by padding method. Normally it is added in the finishing bath itself
along with other additives. The moisture regain of the fabric plays an important role in static dissipation. The higher will be the moisture
regain lower will be the static accumulation. So, hydrophilicity which is the part of the cotton fabric responsible for avoiding this static
generation as moisture again of cotton is 7-8% but of polyester is 0.4%.
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REQUIRED PROPERTIES FOR ANTI-STATIC FINISHES:
 Ease of application
 Compatible with dyes
 It should not cause yellowing.
 It should be eco-friendly.
 It should not increase in soiling.
 It should have good wash fastness and abrasion resistance.
METHODS OF APPLICATION OF ANTI-STATIC FINISH:
(1) Spray method
(2) Padding method
(3) Exhaust method
APPLICATION:
The textile products that are treated with antistatic finishes includes –
• Carpets for computer room.
• Upholstery fabrics and airbags for automobiles.
• Conveyor belts.
• Protective clothing
• Airmail bags, parachutes.

NAMES OF SOME ANTI-STATS ARE:

 Cirrasol Pt (ICI), Ceramine R, Antista oil, Silicon emulsions, PE Glycols