Uses of Antistatic Agents in Plastic Products
Plastics are widely used polymer synthetic materials in modern society. They have a high surface resistivity. Therefore, once charged by friction, static electricity is difficult to remove through electrical conduction and remains on the plastic surface. The presence of static electricity not only affects the aesthetics of plastic products but, more importantly, hinders their manufacture and use. Therefore, plastic antistatic agents are used to reduce the surface resistivity and charge density of the polymer on the surface of plastic products, thereby eliminating the harmful effects of static electricity. Generally speaking, plastics have a very high electrical resistance and become charged by friction or contact, which can easily lead to various static electricity effects, such as electric shock during discharge, dust absorption that damages the appearance, and IC short circuits. To prevent these effects, antistatic agents are generally used.
Common methods for preventing static electricity in plastics include: maintaining a moderate humidity and using a static eliminator; applying low-molecular-weight antistatic agents to the plastic surface; utilizing carbon, conductive filters, and permanent antistatic agents; and modifying the molecular structure of conductive polymers. Antistatic agents are used not only on plastics but also on fibers, paper, coatings, inks, and petroleum products. These products often experience static electricity due to stains.
Comparing various antistatic technologies, physical methods do not alter material properties, but are expensive and only applicable to certain product shapes. Surface treatment is simple but lacks durability. Conductive coatings can be used on complex shapes and a wide range of materials, requiring less equipment, but are expensive, carry a risk of peeling, and are difficult to apply uniformly. Metallization prevents partial peeling, but is limited in applicable materials, requires more equipment, and creates environmental risks. Examples include antistatic boxes, boxes, stationery, and trash cans.
Among the methods of adding antistatic agents internally, adding surfactants (low molecular weight antistatic agents) is cheap and easy to operate, but the surface properties of the material are easy to change, easy to fall off after friction and washing, and cannot be colored; adding permanent antistatic agents (hydrophilic polymers) has good conductivity and stability, but is expensive, requires a large amount of addition, and will be affected by the physical properties of the plastic.