Antistatic Finish

Antistatic finish
Static electricity can cause many processing problems for textile materials, especially those made
from hydrophobic synthetic fibres. In most dry textile processes, fibres and fabrics move at high
speeds over various surfaces which can generate electrostatic charging from frictional forces.
This electrical charge can cause fibres and yarns to repel each other, leading to ballooning.
Fabrics and non-wovens are also affected by static charges, causing materials handling problems.
Consumers are well aware of the clinging of garments and the small electrical shocks caused by
walking on carpets in low humidity conditions. Computers and other electronic equipment can be
damaged by static discharges. Safety requirements for many textiles include antistatic limits at a
defined relative humidity (mostly ranging from 65 to 25 %). Most textile fibres do not conduct
electricity efficiently and can be classified as dielectric materials, demonstrating insulating
properties when dry. Whenever two surfaces come into contact, electrons can flow from one to
the other. Conducting materials allow this electron flow to be equalised instantly when the
surfaces are separated. Insulating materials, on the other hand, can retain the electrical charge
difference for some time. Rubbing is not necessary for this charge difference to occur, but it
usually increases the amount of charge produced significantly. Triboelectrification is the term
used for electrical charges generated by frictional forces. Fibres can be ordered in a
‘triboelectric’ series such that each fibre type becomes positively charged when rubbed with
fibres below it in the series. If polyester and wool fibres touch and then separate, the polyester
fibres become negatively charged and the wool fibres positively charged. If, however, polyester
and polyethylene fibres touch and separate, the polyester fibres become positively charged and
the polyethylene fibres negatively charged. The greater the separation of two fibres in the series,
the greater the charge generated by their contact. When the charge difference between the two
fibres reaches the electrical discharge potential of air (~3 × 10 6Vm–1), the charge is released by
an electrical discharge accompanied by light and sound. The crackling noise heard when an
acrylic sweater is pulled over a cotton shirt and the spark seen when touching a metal door knob
after walking across a carpet are examples of these discharges. The electrical charging of fibres
by friction is affected by the nature of the mechanical contact, the ranking of the fibres in the
triboelectric series, the humidity of the environment, and the presence or absence of moisture on
the fibres. Electric charging and discharging behaviour is crucial for electrostatic spinning
processes and for flocking for example flock printing.
Mechanisms of antistatic finishes

The principal mechanisms of antistatic finishes are increasing the conductivity of the fibre
surface (equivalent to lowering the surface resistivity) and reducing frictional forces through
lubrication. The surface resistivity is defined (AATCC TM 76) as a ‘material property of a
substance whose numerical value is equal to the ratio of the voltage gradient to the current
density’. The resistivity is in effect the resistance of the fibre to electrical flow. Increasing
conductivity produces a lower charge buildup and a more rapid dissipation while increased
lubricity decreases the initial charge buildup. Antistatic agents that increase fibre surface
conductivity form an intermediate layer on the surface. This layer is typically hygroscopic. The
increased moisture content leads to higher conductivity. The presence of mobile ions on the
surface is very important for increased conductivity. The effectiveness of hygroscopic antistatic
finishes depends greatly on the humidity of the surrounding air during actual use; lower humidity
leads to lower conductivity (higher resistance) and greater problems with static electricity.
Types of antistatic finish

1. Non-durable finishes
Both durable and non-durable effects are possible with antistatic finishes. Nondurable antistatic
agents are preferred for fibre and yarn processing finishes since ease of removal is important.
Other important requirements of spin finish and fibre lubricants are heat resistance and oil
solubility. This group of mostly hygroscopic materials includes surfactants, organic salts,
glycols, polyethylene glycols, polyelectrolytes, quaternary ammonium salts with fatty alkyl
chains, polyethylene oxide compounds and esters of salts of alkylphosphonium acids. The
general requirements for non-durable antistats are low volatility, low flammability, non
yellowing (heat stable), and non-corrosive. Low foaming properties are also desirable. Esters of
phosphoric acid form the largest group of non-durable antistats.
2. Durable antistats
Obtaining antistatic properties that are durable to repeated launderings from a single finish
application is difficult to achieve. The basic principle is to form a crosslinked polymer network
containing hydrophilic groups. Typically, polyamines are reacted with polyglycols to make such
structures.
Evaluation of antistatic finishes
The simplest test method for the evaluation of antistatic finishes is the ash test. A piece of the
fabric to be evaluated is rubbed briskly on a piece of plastic or rubber (the vinyl covered arms of
a chair, for example). The fabric is then placed over an ashtray containing cigarette ash. The
amount of ash transferred to the fabric is an indication of the amount of static charge imparted to
the fabric. Owing to the difficulty in quantifying the results, this test is mainly used as a
qualitative tool to distinguish between antistatic-treated and untreated fabrics. More quantitative
results based on the same principle of charge build-up can be obtained with AATCC Test
Method 115: ‘Electrostatic clinging of fabrics: Fabric to metal test’, also known as the ‘cling’
test. A fabric that has been electrically charged in a repeatable manner by rubbing is placed next
to a grounded inclined metal plate. Any residual electrical charge causes the fabric to cling to the
plate. The time required for the fabric to be released from the plate is measured. The shorter the
cling time, the better the antistatic properties.

Antistatic Finish

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Antistatic finish

Mechanisms of antistatic finishes

Types of antistatic finish

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