Abstract
Aim: Plastics used as electrical insulators do not fulfil the criteria for Polish and international standards [1], [2], [3], [4] and Polish legislation [5], with regard to anti-static properties. Therefore, such materials cannot be approved for use in potentially explosive environments. In order to satisfy the requirements of the aforementioned standards and regulations, and produce a product with anti-static properties, thus reducing the risk of an electrostatic discharge, which could initiate the explosive fragmentation of plastic materials, there is a need to improve anti-static properties of plastics mainly by reducing their level of resistance and resistivity.
Project and methods: The paper presents research results for electrostatic properties of products. From an examination of electric parameters; static (surface, cross-sectional and point to point resistance) and dynamic (discharge lead time, capability to electrify, electrical field strength), and based on the stability of electrical parameters over a time period as well as impact on the environment involved with the manufacture of anti-static products, the authors identified a production process for anti-static products, which is revealed in the publication. Selected products represented a range of different approaches and methods of realising the process. Although technology for manufacturing antistatic products is known, nevertheless, it is not thoroughly recognised or described, among other things, in context of durability over time. An anti-static condition is a process of increasing the dissipation (discharge) of static electricity over time. The decisive influence on the speed of dissipation is the electrical capacitance and electrical resistance of the product. Attainment of an anti-static condition is dependent on the modification of two product parameters. Namely, a change to electrical capacitance and change to electrical resistance of products.
Results: As part of research work, performed at the Central Mining Institute since 2012, a series of extensive studies were conducted, which, in view of their diverse nature and type, culminated in a proposed partition of anti-static approaches. Based on several studies of a vast range of products and materials, the proposed partition of techniques to achieve anti-static conditions extends and complements existing methods revealed in specialist literature.
Conclusions: Results from this work can be used in the design of plastic manufacturing processes, with a focus on developing technology for the production of anti-static products, which remain stable over time and to analyze the risk associated with the use of such products.
Keywords: static electricity, electrostatics, anti-static process, charging test, resistance
Type of article: original scientific article