What is an Antistatic Agent?

Antistatic agents are chemical additives that prevent or dissipate static electricity in plastics, fibers, and other polymer materials. They work by forming charge leakage channels through ionized or polar groups, enabling ion conduction or moisture absorption. Since antistatic agents themselves lack free electrons, they are typically classified as surfactants.

Types of Antistatic Agents by Application

External Antistatic Agents

External antistatic agents are dissolved in alcohol or alcohol–water mixtures and applied to the surface of plastic products by coating or impregnation. After drying, they bond firmly to the surface without affecting processing or physical properties. However, their effectiveness diminishes over time due to friction, washing, or migration into the polymer interior, making the antistatic effect temporary.

Internal Antistatic Agents

Internal antistatic agents are incorporated before or during polymer processing. Their molecules disperse between polymer chains and gradually migrate to the surface to maintain a long-lasting antistatic effect. Compared with external agents, they provide more durable protection against static electricity.

Classification of Antistatic Agents

Based on their durability, antistatic agents are divided into temporary and durable types. Structurally, they can be categorized as:

• Inorganic salts

• Surfactants

• Inorganic semiconductors

• Electrolyte polymers

• Organic semiconductor polymers

Among these, surfactant-based antistatic agents are the most widely used. They can be further divided into anionic, cationic, amphoteric, and nonionic types.

Anionic Antistatic Agents

Anionic agents contain negatively charged active groups such as:

• Alkyl sulfonates

• Sulfates

• Phosphate derivatives

• Higher fatty acid salts

• Carboxylates

• Polymeric anionic antistatic agents

These are widely used in chemical fiber oils and lubricants. However, in plastics, they are less commonly applied as internal antistatic agents, except for certain alkyl phosphates and alkyl sulfates.

Cationic Antistatic Agents

Cationic antistatic agents mainly include amine salts, quaternary ammonium salts, and alkyl amino acid salts. Among these, quaternary ammonium salts are the most important due to their strong adhesion to polymers and excellent antistatic properties.

Common Types of Cationic Antistatic Agents

1. Alkyl tertiary amine chlorides

• Example: Stearyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (Arguad 18)

• Applications: Antistatic agent and fabric softener

2. Alkyl tertiary amine nitrates

• Example: Antistatic Agent SN

• Applications: Internal and external antistatic agent for plastics like PVC, PS, ABS, PE, PP, and polyester

3. Alkyl tertiary amine sulfates

• Cyastat LS (lauramidopropyltrimethylammonium methyl sulfate)

• Cyastat 609

• Antistatic Agent™ (Temas, UK)

• Barquat CME (Baird Company, USA)

• Examples:

4. Alkyl tertiary amine phosphates

• Example: Cyastat SP (stearamidopropyl dimethyl-β-hydroxyethylammonium dihydrogen phosphate)

In addition, cationic antistatic agents also include salts of alkylamines, cyclic amines, amidoamines, imidazolines, and acrylamide derivatives, widely applied in fiber treatment and polymer surface modification.

If you want to know more details about Antistatic Agent,please contact us :info@sylicglobal.com