Static Dissipation
Every winter we receive calls asking for help with static buildup in pneumatic systems. With lower humidity comes an increase in static electricity. One can decrease static charge through increased humidity, additives, ionization, proper grounding and surface coatings. And future blogs will address all of these options.
In pneumatic conveying a static electrical charge is usually generated by friction on the exterior or interior of the tubing. In steel tubing the charge is quickly dissipated. But in plastics tubing, the charge is usually localized; it may exist on one part of the tube, and not another part. A shock is usually rare if one were to touch the tube, but touching a non-grounded metal coupling can give a jolt.
Busada has extruded clear-rigid transparent tubing for over 60 years and we firmly recommend cellulose acetate tubing for pneumatic conveyance. Still, we also extrude ABS, PC, PETG and PVC resins. But, unless one has a specific need tor these resins, we recommend Eastman Tenite Butyrate 576E UV stabilized, and 264E FDA approved resins.
The axiom was, and still is today, “CAB provides the best transparent tubing for pneumatics due to its clarity, cellulosic base, superior impact strength, easy fabrication, and low acoustic resonance.”
However, without additives, no clear, rigid transparent tube meets the criteria for “static dissipative.”
All transparent plastics resins require additives (such as activated carbon, or quaternary amines) to become dissipative. But, additives can alter the transparency as you can see from the picture on the right.
Transparent Butyrate falls into the “insulative” category: but do to its plasticizer and moderate water absorption, it is more dissipative than acrylics, polycarbonates, PETG, and PVC as shown below.
| Ohms Per Square | Material | Description |
| > 1013 | Insulative | Insulators and Base Polymers. Not and ESD material |
| 109to 1012 | Anti-Static | Initial charges are surpressed. INsulates against moderate to high leakage currents. |
| 105 to 109 | Dissipative | No or low initial charge. Prevents discharge to or from human contact |
| 103 to 105 | Conductive; | No initial charge. Provides path for charge to bleed-off. |
| 1 to 102 | Shielding |
Most usual measurement standards are ASTM D257 and IEC 60093.
Comparison of various materials (mostly transparent) on volume resistivity.
The table below was compiled from Omnexus
| Polymer | Explicit name of the polymer | Min Value(1015 Ohm.cm) | Max Value (1015 Ohm.cm) |
| ABS | Acrylonitrile-Butadiene Styrene | 14.000 | 16.000 |
| ABS/PC | Acrylonitrile-Butadiene Styrene/Polycarbonat e | 14.000 | 17.000 |
| CAB | CAB - Cellulose Acetate Butyrate | 13.000 | 13.000 |
| COC | Cyclic Olefin Copolymer | 14.000 | 15.000 |
| EVA | Ethylene Vinyl Acetate | 15.000 | 15.000 |
| PC | Polycarbonate high heat | 15.000 | 16.000 |
| PET | Polyethylene Terephtalate | 16.000 | 16.000 |
| PMMA | Polymethylmethacrylate (Acrylic) impact modified | 14.000 | 16.000 |
| PS crystal | Polystyrene crystal | 16.000 | 17.000 |
| PVC | Polyvinyl Chloride rigid | 15,000 | 16.000 |