Electrostatically sensitive electronics can be protected with antistatic compounds.
Application

Compounding systems for antistatic compounds

Reduced surface and contact resistance for lower electrostatic charging

The very high contact and surface resistances of polymers such as polystyrene, polycarbonates and also polyolefines have the effect that charges can only discharge slowly. The effect known as triboelectric charging, for which a one-off contact suffices to charge the surface electrostatically, has the consequence that components often come out of the shaping machine statically charged.

Such charging can pose risks to users and operators. Electrostatically charged plastics attract dust, stick together, are difficult to print and, at high field strength discharge sparks which, despite being harmless physiologically, can hold sufficient energy to ignite explosive media.

Typical areas of application

Antistatic bag for protecting sensitive electronics against electrostatic charging
Warning against electrostatically sensitive devices. They are protected in antistatic packaging.
Printers as an example of the application of antistatic compounds to reduce electrostatic charging
Electrostatic charging of electronics can be reduced by using antistatic packaging
Antistatics reduce the risk of flammability at the petrol pump

Additives with an antistatic effect can reduce surface or contact resistance to the extent so that charges can discharge sufficiently fast. This is realized by the use of permanently effective or migrating antistatic masterbatches of various kinds.

Migrating antistatic masterbatches require a certain surrounding moisture in order to develop the corresponding effect. In addition to conductive carbon-based materials such as carbon black and graphite, conductive polymers such as polyether polymers or polyaniline play an increasingly important role amongst the permanently effective materials.

They allow any desired colouring of the materials, and form an ion-conducting cross-linking network in the basic matrix.

Further insights into our options for the electricity industry

Benefits

BUSS compounding systems offer the following specific benefits for processing antistatics

Thanks to the hinged BUSS Co-Kneader housing design with a unique opening angle of 120°, optimal access to the process components is guaranteed. This enables easy adaptation of the screw geometry within a few minutes without removal of the screw shaft or housing, guaranteeing fast product changes, excellent availability and greater profitability accordingly.

Screw elements, liners, restriction rings and kneading pins are components which are easy to replace and easily accessible by opening the hinged process section of the BUSS Co-Kneader. All these elements can be replaced without removal of the casing or the screw shaft.

The BUSS technology allows high filler loadings by splitting to 2-3 feed positions, use of feed-in processes such as side feeders, gravimetric dosing units, back venting and excellent conveying efficiency. The Co-Kneader's moderate shear rates allow effortless handling of the high viscosities arising with high filler loadings.

The BUSS Co-Kneader guarantees intense distributive mixing, as the superimposition of rotation and axial movement of the mixing and kneading screw causes flow separations and a large number of shearing surfaces, thereby generating cross-channel mixing.

Latest generation multi-flight BUSS compounders achieve a better mixing effect with low overall specific energy input. This is due to the high number of mixing cycles, optimally attuned to the respective process zone. The energy required for melting is almost exclusively introduced mechanically (dissipated) as shear energy.

Compounding requirements

of antistatics

The compounding of antistatic concentrates is an extremely wide field, just as wide as the variety of additives used and their effects. Thus, specific conductive properties are striven for in the end product and often combined with further properties such as colours.

The extremely wide field of requirements, which can range from high loads, various aggregate conditions of the additives to shearing and temperature-sensitive base and end products requires a system which can be used universally. The BUSS Co-Kneader is viewed to be the system with the best all-rounder qualities.

The design freedom for the system also enables taking specific changing requirements into account in the process zones with individually selected configurations. This enables the achievement of maximum quality and throughput.

The easy accessibility due to hinged or mobile casing allows extreme product sequences whilst retaining high availability. The widely supported BUSS process expertise makes the BUSS Co-Kneader a safe and future-proof choice for compounding antistatic compounds.

Typical plant layout

COMPEO compounding system configuration for antistatics compounding

Take a look at our typical plant layout for the production of antistatic compounds in our COMPEO showroom.

Get to know our COMPEO compounder series

BUSS Co-Kneaders

worldwide

Our patented Co-Kneaders are used worldwide nowadays, supporting our customers in the production of plastics. Using the BUSS compounding systems, our customers can master all the demanding requirements for compounding compounds with antistatic additives.

World map with an overview of the Co-Kneaders used for manufacturing performance compounds.

Number of Co-Kneaders used for antistatics compounding

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