ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE | ADDITIVES
Electrical charge and discharge presents a risk to electronic components and human safety. Peter Mapleston learns how electrically conductive additives can present solutions
Innovative options to tackle static and ESD
Accumulation of electrical charge on plastic parts can lead to electrostatic discharge (ESD) that can damage or destroy sensitive electronic compo- nents or cause sparks that lead to explosion or fire. And, while insulating thermoplastics provide great mechanical and environmental protection, their transparency to electromagnetic radiation can negatively affect the performance of electronics they may be intended to protect. With electronics penetrating into more and more everyday equip- ment, there is a growing need for plastics contain- ing electrically conductive additives. This article takes a look at some of the most
recent developments in electrically conductive additives and explores some examples of com- pounds that make use of them. Most development work relates to additives based on elementary carbon in different forms – carbon black, carbon nanotubes, and a novel porous carbon among them. But work is also ongoing, especially when it comes to static dissipation, in solutions based on other chemistries.
www.compoundingworld.com Netherlands-based CarbonX — which traces its
roots back to the country’s TU Delft — has been focusing its attention on the ability of its additives, marketed under the same name, to improve perfor- mance and sustainability across several polymer applications where both reinforcement and conductivity are required. CarbonX is a porous carbon comprising chemi-
cally linked nano-fibres in a three-dimensional network. “In cases where conductivity is needed, carbon black has often been the go-to option. Unfortunately, compounds with carbon black become exceedingly viscous and their impact resistance is compromised, so there are limits to how much conductivity can be achieved before the compound becomes impossible to process,” says company CTO Daniela Sordi.“CarbonX materials have very good dispersibility. This leads to very homogenous compounds that provide the desired conductivity, reinforcement, light weight and impact resistance required by applications where physical and electrical safety are paramount,” she
Main image: This injection- moulded IC chip tray is produced in a conductive compound containing recycled carbon fibre from Procotex
February 2021 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 17
IMAGE: PROCOTEX
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