Anti-static fabric, also known as anti-static cloth, is a type of material that prevents the buildup of static electricity.
Its anti-static properties are based on two mechanisms: charge dissipation and neutralization.
When an object is grounded, the static electricity on the fabric is neutralized through the corona discharge of conductive fibers, and any residual static electricity can be dissipated to the ground via the conductive fibers.
If the conductive fibers are not grounded, the weak corona discharge can still dissipate the static electricity.
Classification of Antibacterial Finishing Agents
Effects of Wearing Performance on Clothing
The static electricity generated by clothing made of different materials can cause the clothes to tangle with each other, making it inconvenient to wear. When the clothing and skin have opposite charges, they can adhere to each other, causing difficulties in walking.
Causes of Accidental Accidents
Wearing synthetic clothes can generate a large amount of static electricity, which can accumulate on the surface of the clothes. The accumulated static charge can produce sparks by breaking down the air gap. The energy of the sparks is sufficient to ignite the flammable and explosive gases in the vicinity, leading to fires or even explosions.
Effects on Human Health
The mechanism of the effect of static electricity on the human body is not yet clear. Some people believe that static electricity can cause an increase in blood pressure, while others think it can lead to calcium loss in the blood. Still, others believe that static electricity can cause skin allergies, among other effects.
Impact on the Quality of Textile Products
During the process of opening loose fibers, static electricity causes the loose fibers to adhere to the machine frame, pipelines, and other surfaces. This results in uneven thickness of the output fiber layer and also causing difficulties in production due to entanglement, compression, and rolling.
Industries Using Anti-Static Fabrics:
LABORATORIES
CLEAN ROOMS
ATEX AREAS
AUTOMOTIVES
Principles of Anti-Static Textile Materials:
There are generally two ways in which static electricity is generated:
1. Static electricity generated by contact.
2.Static electricity generated by induction.
Contact-generated static electricity is mainly due to the movement of charges. When two objects come into contact and rub against each other, one object's surface begins to accumulate positive charges while the other object's surface becomes negatively charged, resulting in static electricity.
Static electricity generated by induction occurs when a conductive material is near a conductor or insulator. Charges will begin to accumulate on the conductor or insulator side closest to the conductive material.After a prolonged period of induction, the positive and negative charges of the conductor or insulator will become completely separated, leading to the generation of static electricity.
Both of these cases can be referred to as the charge transfer effect. Anti-static refers to the ability of anti-static fabric to minimize the transfer effect, prevent the accumulation of static electricity, reduce friction or contact with the product, and achieve the goal of preventing static electricity buildup. The following are three commonly used methods:
Antistatic Methods for Textiles
The methods for anti-static treatment of textiles mainly involve increasing the conductivity of fibers and improving the humidity of the surrounding environment. The most basic and important method is to reduce the electrical resistance of fibers and increase their conductivity. There are three main methods for anti-static treatment of textiles:
Treating fabrics with anti-static agents; Modifying the fibers by grafting hydrophilic groups onto them, blending or interweaving with hydrophilic fibers;Blending or interweaving with conductive fibers.
The mechanisms of the first two methods are to increase the fabric's moisture absorption, decrease its insulation, and speed up the dissipation of static electricity. Therefore, their effects may not be durable or significant in dry environments or after repeated washing.
The third method can permanently and efficiently solve the problem of static electricity in textiles. It can be utilized for special functional clothing, such as anti-static workwear.
Production of Anti-static Fibers and Fabrics
1. External Anti-static Method
The method of attaching external anti-static agents to the surface of fibers is known as surface treatment, which can be categorized into temporary and durable anti-static treatment methods.
(1) Temporary anti-static treatment. Generally, external spraying, impregnation, and coating methods are used to prevent static interference during fiber manufacturing and processing.
(2) Durable anti-static treatment. Durable anti-static treatment is achieved by attracting ions of opposite electrical charge to the surface of fibers through crosslinking via heat treatment or by adhering to a resin carrier. This results in a certain level of durability, wash resistance, friction resistance, and other properties.
2. Internal Anti-static Method
The following three methods are used to incorporate anti-static agents into the fibers:
(1) Modify the fiber polymer before spinning. Usually, hydrophilic compounds are copolymerized with fiber monomers before spinning.
(2) Use a blend spinning method to mix the polymer with anti-static agents, or use a composite spinning method.
(3) Coat the fiber surface with a conductive metal or carbon black (which is actually a part of surface treatment), or utilize composite spinning to produce anti-static fibers that contain carbon black.
Fabrics treated with anti-static agents can be widely used for various purposes, such as underwear and outerwear. However, the performance of underwear fabrics varies; therefore, the post-treatment of the fabric should be determined according to its intended use. Through practice, the following requirements are placed on anti-static agents used in fabric treatment:
(1) It has a good anti-static effect, requires low dosage, is not affected by other auxiliaries, and can still provide effective anti-static properties even under low humidity conditions.
(2) It does not reduce the color fastness or alter the color of the fabric.
(3) It does not significantly reduce the physical properties of the fabric or alter its handfeel or style.
(4) Has no adverse effects on processing equipment, such as rust.
(5) Odorless and non-irritating to the skin.
(6) The fabric has good durability and heat resistance, making it suitable for its intended use.
Advantages of BEGOODTEX Anti-Static Fabric:
High conductivity and superior electrostatic performance. Metal fibers as fine as 6.5 µm have excellent conductivity, effectively dissipating static charges.
Comfortable to wear, ultra-fine and ultra-soft fibers and yarns seamlessly blend into clothing, maintaining a high level of comfort.
Excellent washing properties Even after multiple industrial washings, the characteristics and anti-static performance of the clothing will not change.
Preventing electrical instrument malfunctions by dissipating ESD is essential for protecting various electrical equipment from the adverse effects of static charges.
Long service life: Excellent durability increases the fabric's longevity.
Test Methods for Static Electricity Properties of Textiles
The testing methods for the static electricity properties of fibers or fabrics can be roughly divided into two categories: qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis.
Qualitative analysis involves observing the presence or absence of discharge sparks, electric shocks, discharge sound, and attraction (dust adhesion, soiling, and entanglement with the body).
Quantitative analysis involves measuring the fiber resistance, static potential, and half-life. It also includes measuring the friction-induced static voltage, half-life, charge amount, and attenuation of fabrics, as well as determining the resistivity and adhesion.
Applications of Inherent Flame Retardant (IFR) + Anti-static Fabrics
1. Electronics Industry: Anti-static fabrics are widely used in the work clothes and gloves of production workshops to prevent static interference during the production process. The fabric can also protect electronic components from static hazards, ensuring the quality and stable performance of the components.
2. Medical and Healthcare: Anti-static fabrics are used in surgical gowns, surgical caps, surgical shoe covers, etc.These products can effectively reduce the problem of static charge accumulation.
3. Petrochemical industry: Anti-static fabrics can be utilized in the petrochemical industry for protective gear like anti-static clothing, gloves, and shoe covers to mitigate fires and explosions triggered by static electricity.
4. Aerospace: Anti-static fabrics can be utilized in the aerospace industry for protective gear like anti-static clothing, gloves, and shoe covers to prevent static interference and damage.
5. Power Industry: Anti-static fabrics can be utilized in the power industry for protective equipment like anti-static clothing, gloves, and shoe covers to prevent fires and explosions triggered by static electricity.
6. Automotive Manufacturing: Anti-static fabrics can be utilized in the automotive manufacturing industry for protective equipment like work clothes and gloves to prevent static interference and damage to automotive electronic equipment.
