Surfactant-type antistats

Surfactant-type antistats find the widest use because of thek low cost and minimal effect on the mechanical properties of the plastic. Ease of use is another favorable aspect to surfactants. They can be mixed with the bulk of the plastic prior to processing or can be appHed to the surface of the finished plastic article as the need dictates. 

Since surfactant-type antistats function by attracting atmospheric moisture to the plastic, the relative humidity (rh) has a significant effect on antistat performance (Fig. 6). Relative humidity also has an effect on charge generation (Table 7). 

Surfactant-Type Antistats. Inherently conductive antistats have the advantage of not being dependent on atmospheric moisture to function. Their drawbacks include expense, coloration of the plastic, and alteration of the mechanical properties of the plastic. The added stiffness caused by conductive fillers may not be a problem with a rigid container, but it can be a problem for a flexible bag. 

Bisoflex 124 has considerably higher conpatibllity with PVC then conventional non-ionic surfactant type antistatic agents. 

Adding to this complexity is the fact that many varied chemical materials can, and frequently do, compete in the same function. Also, the same material type may perform more than one function in a host plastic. An example would include the many surfactant type materials based on fatty acid chemistry which could impart lubricant, antistatic, mold release, and/or slip properties to a plastic matrix, depending upon the materials involved, loading level, processing conditions, and application. 

Surfactants may exhibit a degree of hydrotropy and thus function as antistatic agents. They are often used for this and for their emulsifying properties in conjunction with fibre lubricants, or may be used alone in a dual capacity as lubricant and antistat. Suitably active surfactants can be found amongst all four ionic types, some typical examples being [471] ... 

Many other products can be used as softeners but are less important commercially because of greater cost and/or inferior properties. Examples are anionic surfactants such as long-chain (C16-C22) alkyl sulphates, sulphonates, sulphosuccinates and soaps. These have rather low substantivity and are easily washed out. Nonionic types of limited substantivity and durability, usually applied by padding, include polyethoxylated derivatives of long-chain alcohols, acids, glycerides, oils and waxes. They are useful where ionic surfactants would pose compatibility problems and they exhibit useful antistatic properties, but they are more frequently used as lubricants in combination with other softeners, particularly the cationics. 

The use of zwitterionic surfactants commercially has increased dramatically in recent years (U because of their unique properties, such as compatibility and synergism when used in conjunction with most other types of surfactants. This type of surfactant is used in textile processing aids, cosmetic products, cleaning agents, and as antistatic agents. The sulfobetaines have been found to be very good lime soap disperants ( ). 

In order to be used as an additive in various types of textile lubricants, surfactants should have high miscibility with base oils as well as the other fundamental surfactant characteristics such as lubricity improving ability and antistatic properties. Table XVI shows the miscibility of C a gAE vari°us lubricant base oils in comparison with that of NPE(IOEO). Good miscibility of SAE can be seen in the Table. Further information, including practical examples, is contained1 in Union Carbide Corp. s booklet on Tergitol 15-S nonionics(20). 

Monoalkyl phosphate and phosphate esters are special types of phosphoms-contain-ing anionic surfactants that are of great industrial importance. They are used for flameproofing, as antistatic for textiles, for foam inhibition, as an extreme pressure (EP) lubricant additive, as a surfactant component for alkaline, and as acid cleaners and for special cosmetic preparations (5). The commercially available phosphate ester products are complex mixtures of monoester and diester, free phosphoric acid, and free nonionic. 

Properties Amphoteric Uses Antistat, emulsifier, surfactant in cosmetics surfactant, solubilizer in ultra-mild baby and adult conditioning-type shampoos Trade Name Synonyms Antaron PC-37 t[ISP http //www.ispcorp.com]... 

The majority of silicone polymers/surfactants that are used in today s personal care industry are of the nonionic types. Since the derivatives of polysiloxanes could be ionic completely or partially, the properties exhibited by such compounds are different and therefore provide an entirely new range of properties and benefits. For example, cationic and amphoteric functional groups, because of increased substantivity on the hair surfaces and durable surface covering, provide antistatic effects. Polymethoxylsiloxanes modified with cationic and amphoteric groups provide both antistatic benefit as well as high gliding ability, which are very useful in personal care applications. ... 

Well known antistatic agents, which are added to polymers are ionic surfactants of the ethoxylated amine and sulfonate types. Ethoxylated amines have the basic structure like... 

Uses Surfactant, softener, conditioner, iubricant, antistat, surface modifier used in cream rinses, conditioning-type shampoos, toiietries, creams and iotions, and tex-tiie processing... 

The variable electronic characteristics of the amphoteric surfactants also make them useful in textile applications where antistatic and softening properties under various conditions and on different fabric types are advantageous. Treatment of various metal surfaces is also facilitated by the ambivalent nature of such materials, leading to their use in metal treating and finishing products. 

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