69 Antistatic and Conductive Additives 69.1 Conductivity Additives for Spray Paints 69-1 B. Davis 69.2 Antistatic Additives for Plastic Materials. 69-1 ABM Chemicals Limited References. 69.3 69.1_Conductivity Additives for Spray Paints In the electrostatic spray technique, the atomized paint particles receive a high voltage in the “gun.” Subsequently, the paint particles are attracted to the grounded workpiece, resulting in highly efficient paint utilization with good coverage of any awkward areas (Figure 69.1). nts formulated largely from nonpolar solvents have an electrical resistance that is far too high for satisfactory application inthis way. Ibis necessary to reduce the paint resistance below | MQ, so very large proportions of polar solvent would be necessary; therefore a search for a more eflicient chemical additive revealed that some quaternary ammonium compounds (Figure 69.2) are particularly effective alternatives. ‘Choosing the best quaternary ammonium compound involved the investigation of various chemical structures, molecular weights, and anions. Using commercially available blends of raw materials and. avoiding potentially corrosive ions, it has been possible to develop a particularly effective product, namely Catafor CA. Bearing in mind the customer preference for pourable liquids, an 80% solution in butanol, is normally used to give very low resistivities with small additions, as illustrated with xylene in Figure 69.3 ‘When using Catafor CA in paints it is advantageous to add a modest amount of polar solvent, because a synergistic effect is usually observed (Table 69.1) ‘The advantages of using quaternary ammonium salts as a conductivity additive can he summarized a follows: 1. Catafor CA, containing quaternary ammonium salts, is compatible with most types of paint, thus avoiding reformulation. ‘The fuid 8096 solution is quickly and easily dissolved, Only low dosage is needed to produce a large drop in resistivity (05 to 396 in practice). ‘The same low dosage will reduce surface tension to a suitably low value. Yellowing effects are not usually observed, even in sensitive white p Effects on the paint film properties (evenness, general appearance, hardness, corrosion resist etc.) are minimal is 69.2 Antistatic Additives for Plastic Materials ‘The many adverse effects of stati electricity on insulating plastic materials are well ecorded.'? These include textile processing difficulties, poor sound reproduction from records, excessive dust and dist 69.19.2. atings Technology Handbook, Third Edition Gun froo Ky] FIGURE 69.1. Schematic diagram of an electrostatically charged spray R ty ronta x L R FIGURE 69.2 Structure of quaternary ammonium compounds. os oa 03 02 oa 23 48 ata for Cal (%) FIGURE 69.3 Effect of quaternary ammonium sal on ele resistance in paint, ‘TABLE 69.1. Effect of Cataor CA in a Long Oil Alkyd Paint Resitnce Paint-Solvent Combination Me) Paint + bydrocarbon solvent, 20 Paint + hydrocarbon solvent + 1% Catafor CARD La Paint + hydrocarbon solvent + 10% methyl ethyl ketone + 1% Catsfor CARO 029Antistatic and Conductive Additives 69.3 Elastomer Carton or Shoe Foam Untreated Metalizes Soles} Packing Foam [Conductive [Dissipating —[Ant-static [Insulating o 408 10 to! Ohmsisquare FIGURE 69.4. Surface resistivity spectrum, collection on surfaces, and dust or solvent explosion hazards. One of the most important hazards associated with modern technology is electrostatic discharge, which can cause critical damage to micro- chip circuits, so essential in electronics ‘Various types of antistatic agent are reviewed in the literature! and it appears that surfactant molecules are particularly effective, Nonionic, anionic, cationic, and even ampholytic types have been used as internal antistatic agents, depending on the type of polymer. For example, nonionics are recommended for polyolefins, but cationics are particularly effective in the more polar polymers,® such as polyvinyl chloride, polystyrenes, and polyurethanes ‘The large influence of relative humidity on the effectiveness of antistatic agents suggests that a film of water is held on the plastic surface by the presence of the ionized or polar groups of the surfactant molecules projecting from the surface, with the hydrophobic tail anchored in the polymer. Generally recognized levels of surface rsistivty® for various types of polyurethane are shown in Figure 69.4 Very conductive plastics are usually made by filling with large quantities (10 to 30%) of carbon or powdered metal to produce a continuous conductive path through the polymer bulk, and itis unlikely that organic additive, relying on moisture adsorption, can ever produce such low resistivities. However, quaternary ammonium compounds have proved to be very effective at producing a useful i conductivity, and the active ingredient is sold in a variety of solvents (eg, butanediol, butyl oxitol, ethylene glycol, trichloropropyl phosphate) to suit various needs. ‘The use of quaternary ammonium antistatic agents can be restricted by the high temperatures reached in making or molding plastic materials, However, when high temperatures exist for short periods only, Catafor CA can be used in plastics (polyurethane, PVC, polystyrene, rubber, ete). External application is also useful, when the effect is more temporary It can be used on fibers and in the cleaning of surfaces, when itis sufficiently substantive to give some antistatic effet. References 1. Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, Vol. 3, 3rd ed. New York: Wiley-Interscience, 1983, p. 149. 2. RGachter and H. Muller, in Plasties Additives Handbook, 2nd ed. Munich: Hanser, 1984, Chapter 12, p. 568. 3. A. Lerner, “A new additive for electrostatic discharge conteol in foams and elastomers)” Proceedings of the Society ofthe Plasties Industry, Texas, 1984, pp. 331-334, 4. B, Davis, “Industrial applications of surfactants” Royal Society of Chemistry special Publication 59, 1987, pp. 307, 317.