Electrostatic rubber blends
Static electricity poses a serious problem in industrial environments - from damaging sensitive electronic components to increased risk of explosion. It occurs when two materials or surfaces come into contact, rub against each other, or are separated, causing the transfer of electrons.
Material transport, conveyor belt movement, powder mixing, film unwinding - these are just some processes that contribute to the rapid accumulation of electrostatic charges. Uncontrolled static electricity can lead to serious consequences in industrial environments, including equipment failures, product damage, increased fire hazard, or decreased efficiency of production processes.
Why Is Electrostatic Control So Important?
In industrial environments, electrostatic control plays a crucial role in ensuring safety, high quality, and production continuity. Although electrostatic charges may seem like harmless phenomena at first glance, in reality, their uncontrolled presence can lead to significant hazards.
Static Electricity - An Invisible Threat
Electrostaticity occurs when electric charges accumulate on the surface of a material, which can cause sparking or attract dust particles. In some environments, the accumulation of electrostatic charges can be dangerous. Even a small spark can lead to serious consequences:
- damage to sensitive components and electronic devices (ESD)
- explosions in explosive atmospheres (ATEX)
- disruption of equipment operation
Static electricity poses a huge danger in environments where flammable substances, such as gases, vapors, and powders, are present. Static discharges can cause sparking, which can ignite gas and liquid fuels. Even a single spark can initiate ignition and ultimately lead to a fire or explosion, for example, in grain loading facilities or paint booths.
Even the smallest sudden electrostatic discharges (ESD) can damage electrically sensitive equipment, such as semiconductors and integrated circuits. Static charges also attract dust particles and various contaminants, which can result in contamination of food packaging lines or pharmaceutical products, negatively affecting product quality and increasing the number of rejected batches.
Static electricity control not only affects product quality but is also essential for maintaining operator safety in the workplace and minimizing issues with process equipment. It is worth noting that the level of electrostatic-related hazards varies depending on the specific industrial environment.
What Are Electrostatic Rubber Compounds?
Electrostatic rubber compounds are technologically advanced polymer compositions that combine the properties of traditional elastomers with the ability to protect against electrostatic discharges. Their application is crucial for safety in various industrial sectors where electrostatics can pose risks to people, sensitive equipment, machinery, and technological processes.
Antistatic Additives for Rubber
Special conductive or charge-dissipative additives, such as carbon fibers or carbon nanotubes, are added to standard rubber compounds, such as EPDM, NBR, SBR, or FKM. These additives play a significant role in improving material properties. Antistatic additives added to rubber help reduce the accumulation of electrostatic charges on its surface. The material exhibits excellent electrical conductivity and the ability to dissipate electrostatic charges. Additives also help maintain the cleanliness of rubber products, preventing the accumulation of dust and other particles on their surfaces. It is worth mentioning that electrostatic rubber compounds, through proper composition modification, can be tailored for hardness, mechanical strength, and flexibility, allowing for a wide range of applications in various industries.
Electrostatic Properties of Rubber Compounds
The fundamental characteristic of electrostatic rubber compounds is electrostatic conductivity, which is the ability to effectively dissipate electrostatic charges. ESD rubber has the ability to dissipate and conduct electrostatic charges and prevent their accumulation on the processed object.
At Power Rubber, electrostatic rubber compounds have been designed for intensive use. They are resistant to wear, stretching, and cracking. The high quality directly contributes to longer service life and lower wear. The hardness of the rubber compound can be precisely adjusted to meet technical requirements and environmental conditions.
Depending on the base used (e.g., NBR, SBR), the compounds, in addition to antistatic protection, exhibit resistance to oils, petroleum substances, acid action, solvents, or high temperatures. This makes them an ideal solution in challenging industrial conditions.
Applications of Electrostatic Rubber Compounds
The unique properties of electrostatic rubber compounds make them suitable wherever ESD control is of primary importance. Their composition can be tailored to specific operational requirements, such as chemical resistance, temperature resistance, or mechanical strength. They find applications in areas such as:
- electronic and electrical industry - rubber compounds are used for antistatic mats on workbenches, floors, conveyor belts, cable and hose covers. Rubber products with antistatic properties work exceptionally well in facilities producing integrated circuits or microcontrollers;
- automotive and aviation industry - electrostatic compounds are used to manufacture seals, wires, valve and pump seals, and coatings to prevent the accumulation of charges that could disrupt automotive electronics;
- chemical and petrochemical industry - production of chemical-resistant wires and seals that are resistant to charge accumulation;
- mining - rubber compounds with antistatic additives are used to produce conveyor belt components and seals to prevent sparking in explosive atmospheres;
- medical and pharmaceutical industry - used in clean rooms, where maintaining a clean and stable production environment is crucial, as well as in equipment requiring electrostatic control to avoid contamination and dust particles;
- industrial equipment - in devices used for transporting bulk materials (rubber belts, components of conveyor systems in explosion hazardous areas);
- facilities handling flammable substances - handling of explosive and chemical materials
- EX zones (explosion hazardous areas)
Rubber Products from Electrostatic Compounds Available at Power Rubber Store
At Power Rubber store, we offer high-quality rubber products made from electrostatic compounds, designed for professional applications in various industrial sectors, laboratories, and wherever the risk of electrostatic discharges exists.
Our range includes:
Why Use Electrostatic Rubber from Power Rubber? - Key Benefits
At Power Rubber, we manufacture ESD rubber products that help control static electricity. They effectively prevent the accumulation of electrostatic charges that could permanently damage sensitive electronic components. Furthermore, they also reduce the risk of electrostatic discharges, which pose a direct threat to people and property in industrial environments, and enhance workplace safety by reducing the risk of sparking, a potential cause of fire or explosion.
If you are looking for ESD protection that enables fast and controlled dissipation of electric charges, feel free to contact us by phone: +48 22 292 40 24 or +48 50 51 603 03, or via the email address provided (power|powerrubber.com| |Power|PowerRubber.com), or through our contact form.