Anti-static devices

Eldorado made a deal with U.S. Radium to market some of that firm s products in the Commonwealth. One of these was Undark, a radium-based luminous compound. The arrangement also encompassed compounds used in the manufacture of television and cathode-ray tubes. The biggest seller amor these products was the lonotron, a radioactive anti-static device that used the ability of alpha radiation to ionize air to prevent formation of static electricity. It was employed in industries where flammable vapours or materials could be ignited by sparks from static electricity. Textile and paper mills were major customers, but the lonotron helped in the operation of coating and packaging equipment as well. It enabled manufacturers to increase the speed of their machines while reducing the risk of fire. 

The use of consumer products that contain radioactive sources can contribute to nonoccupational exposures (320). Examples of consumer products incorporating radioactive materials are radioluminescent indicators (timepieces, signs, instrument dials), ionization smoke detectors, anti-static devices, dentistry porcelains, pottery glazes, incandescent gas mantles, and tobacco products. Low levels of radiation are also generated by such sources as color television tubes, but emissions are well controlled and the glass of the picture tube is sufficiently thick to absorb most of this radiation. 

In addition to the straightforward application of conductors and semi-conductors, there are some interesting examples of other uses. Polymers derived from 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene are produced commercially as anti-static agents and substituted compounds have found particular application in electrochromic devices - substances that change colour on application of an electric current. 

Many electronic components can be static sensitive and can be damaged from common static charges, which may occur on individuals, tools, and other non-conductors or semiconductors. To avoid discharging the static onto the sensitive components personnel should use a ground mat, ground tool, anti-static garments, or an anti-static wrist strap. May also be called Electrostatic Sensitive Device (ESD). 

An interesting approach to static electrochemical immunoassay arrays that employs microcontact printing has been reported [60]. In this work, the authors printed hydrophilic patterns onto a hydrophobic poly(dimethylsiloxane) substrate to create virtual beakers to allow spatial separation of aqueous solutions. A demonstration of the device employed anti-dinitrophenyl-galactose oxidase as a model, and the galactose oxidase product hydrogen peroxide was detected by fixed potential amperometry. 

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