Special Antistatic Agents

Conductive polymers have found other applications, however, often in areas where their relatively high cost is justified by highly specialized uses for which other products are not nearly as effective. For example, a variety of such polymers have been used as antistatic agents on photographic film, in carpeting, and in surgical rooms ... 

Cationic surfactants are mainly employed for the purpose of achieving certain special effects, which include applications in rinse-cycle fabric softeners, antistatic agents, and microbicides [4]. 

Table 3.12 contains a condensed summary of t5q)es and properties of antistatic agents used in PVC. For a comprehensive review of antistatic properties, mechanisms of their action, and the use of antistatic agents, see the specialized monographic source. 

Due to the special features mentioned above, siloxane amphiphiUc copolymers are used in a wide variety of applications including foam stabilization in plastic (polyurethane) foams, cosmetics, wetting, emulsification, lubrication and in antistatic agents, drug delivery and so forth. 

HIPS is currently processed by procedures such as injection molding, extrusion, blow-molding, and tbermoforming. HIPS properties can be further modified by incorporation of special additives such as flame retardants, stabilizers, antistatic agents, etc. The main production fraction of HIPS is consumed in the manufacture of packaging materials, technical products, toys, and various consumer goods. 

Pationlc 1042K is used as an additive to polyolefins, sty-renics, PVC, TPE s and TPO s. Tbe product can be used as an antistatic agent, an internally conqpounded mold release additive, a flow modifier, and an internal lubricant. It is specially designed for use in the plastics industry by polymer producers, compounders, and concentrate manufacturers. 

Vinyl fibers except for vinal and vinal-vinyon do not generally undergo specialized finishing, although antioxidants and antistatic agents may be used. Vinal and vinal-vinyon matrix fibers can be treated with urea-aldehyde based durable press finishes to improve their wrinkle recovery, and vinal can be made flame retardant with phosphorus-containing finishes used for cellulosics. 

Such products are used in enhanced oil recovery (- oilfleld chemicals) and in special textile applications (- antistatic agents). 

Anionic softeners are heat stable at normal textile processing temperatures and compatible with other components of dye and bleach baths. They can easily be washed off and provide strong antistatic effects and good rewetting properties because their anionic groups are oriented outward and are surrounded by a thick hydration layer. Sulfonates are, in contrast to sulfates, resistent to hydrolysis (Fig. 3.3). They are often used for special applications, such as medical textiles, or in combination with anionic fluorescent brightening agents. 

CNC Antistat 4 is compatible with finishing agents commonly used in textile finishing and is effective in water repellent formulations. The product is non-corrosive to plant equipment and no special handling is required. 

The relatively good stability of amine oxides in oxidising, acid, and alkali media makes them useful emulsifiers, foam and viscosity boosters, antistatics, dispersants, and cleansers in a wide range of household, cosmetic, and special aids. Imidazolines are known as corrosion inhibitors, emulsifiers, and agents facilitated in electrochemical and acid-etching processes. 

Polymeric binders are often used to improve the films adhesive and mechanical properties. In some cases additional polystyrene sulfonic acid can be used to increase film properties, in most cases polyvinyl alcohol or waterborne polyesters and polyurethanes are more desirable. Special polymers like silicone emulsions have been used for antistatic releasing agent compositions. Pendant vinyl groups serve to form a network by addition of Si-H using platinum catalysis. Acrylic binders have been claimed to offer fast drying presumably due to their liigh glass temperature. 

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