Antistatic Agents

are additives of different compositions: surface active substances as tensides of non-ionic, cationic or anionic nature as e.g. ethoxylate, polyglycol ether of fatty alcohol, fatty acids, amines, alkyl phenols, alkyl phosphates, quaternary ammonium salts a.s.o. In most cases an electronic charge, caused by friction, is prevented under involvement of the air humidity. The surface resistance or half life period respectively is reduced by a conducting layer or a hydrophilic coating, so that the surface charge is discharged more rapidly. Permanent antistatics retain their effect conforming to the product life. Temporary antistatics completely evaporate away from the surface in the course of time. Plastics are good insulators; this causes strong electrostatic charge due to mechanical friction, which makes plastics stick to each other or attract dust and dirt particles. Also passing air, heat and dryness cause static charge on films, tapes and filament productions opposite the earth, which might be responsible for production breakdown as well as for heavy accidents.

Permanent antistatics

Permanent Antistatics fundamentally differ from the conventional migrating systems.

The permant antistatic effect remains during the entire lifetime of the product and does not disappear because of mechanical interventions (wiping, washing etc.).

The used additives have no migration tendency and remain in the polymer matrix where they form a network of dissipative structures in which the static charge is discharged. Furthermore these systems are almost independent from the ambient humidity and show good surface resistances under all ambient conditions (dependent on the dosage >=10^8 Ohm). The use is especially recommended under safety conditions, e.g. in explosible areas (ATEX) or other conditions where migrating substances are not desirable (contaminations). Food approvals exist.