The Anti-Static Apparel Market Will Grow
Companies can expect to see growth in the anti-static apparel market, but, as with the general textile industry, most of this growth is likely to occur in Asia. The anti-static apparel market will grow globally, and the outlook is positive.
However, the extent of this growth will vary by location. Growth in the United States and Europe is expected to remain stable but slow, while Asia, particularly China, will see faster growth.
Static electricity is generally harmless to individuals, but it causes $5 billion in damage to products in the electronics and computer industry each year.
As computers and electronics become more prevalent in consumer products, more manufacturers will need to implement anti-static control measures. One such measure is anti-static clothing, as people are the largest source of static electricity in the workplace.
The amount of static electricity we feel varies based on factors such as body and foot size-larger bodies and feet require more stored charge to generate the same voltage.
The material of our clothing and the soles of our shoes also influence static electricity. Weather also affects it-dry air accumulates more static charge.
Most people experience a harmless shock at approximately 2,000-4,000 volts. However, electrical components can be damaged by as little as a few volts. It is estimated that 8% to 33% of product losses (the percentage of defective products) are due to static electricity.
When working with flammable liquids and gases, anti-static clothing is required to prevent damage to electronic components or to prevent fires and explosions.
If uncontrolled, static electricity can damage products and lead to machine downtime, lost work time, product returns, and warranty costs, particularly in the semiconductor and electronics industries. Therefore, it has become a high priority in this industry.
Anti-static Apparel Market: To eliminate static electricity, anti-static clothing is made from conductive fabrics. This is achieved by adding conductive fibers or by treating the finished textile.
Many anti-static garments are made with a grid or stripe of conductive thread within a matrix of cotton, polyester, or a blend of these materials. A dense grid (e.g., 5 mm x 5 mm) is better at imparting anti-static properties than a loose grid (20 mm x 20 mm).
The largest end-use category for anti-static clothing is workwear. The largest consumers are companies in the electronics and computer industries. Automakers are also significant consumers due to the increasing number of electronic circuit boards in vehicles.
Anti-static materials are also used in carpets, filters, anti-static brushes, conveyor belts, underwear, cleanroom fabrics, and smart textiles. All of these represent niche markets for anti-static products.
Anti-static clothing: Anti-static clothing includes wristbands, anti-static shoes, and anti-static clothing. Wristbands have been a popular solution in the electronics industry for many years because they are inexpensive and abrasive to the wearer.
However, as electronics have become smaller, wristbands have become less effective. They are also impractical when workers need to move around.
Few companies focus solely on anti-static fibers or yarns. Some companies specialize in anti-static or electrostatic discharge (ESD) products for everything from flooring to packaging and apparel.
More commonly, fabric or apparel companies in the workwear or protective clothing markets offer anti-static capabilities in their ranges. Many flame-retardant fabrics also have anti-static properties.
Regardless of the approach, companies can expect growth in anti-static clothing to align with the growth of consumer electronics. However, as with the textile industry in general, most of this growth is likely to be in Asia.