9.5.

Antistatic finishing
9.5.1. Introduction
Although carpets are made with almost all kinds of fibres, looking at the cost effectiveness,
maintenance and after sale care required, these carpets are found mainly composed of synthetic
fibres such as polyester, polyamide, polypropylene, etc. and their blends. Static electricity is the
major problem mainly with the hydrophobic synthetic fibres. Consumers have faced problems of
small electricity shocks while walking on the carpets. This is mainly due to the carpet surfaces
coming in contact with the shoe soles and being charged due to friction among these surfaces or
due to the generation of positive charges on one surface and negative charges on the other
surface. The generated and accumulated charges will stay on the carpet surface and generate
small shocks, because of their antistatic behaviour. The dust in air has a tendency to adhere to
static charged carpet piles and causes soiling problems. Static charges may generate sparks and
cause fire explosion in some cases which are capable of generating static electricity. Also, static
discharges may harm the electronic equipments [50].
This puts on the limitations to use carpets in various fields. So, to overcome this problem of
static charge development, antistatic functionalization of the fibre surfaces becomes highly
essential.

9.5.2. Chemistry and classification of antistatic finishing agents

There are basically two categories of antistatic agents namely, non-durable antistatic and
durable antistatic agents.
• Non-durable antistatic agents

These are applied on the substrate which do not need frequent laundering, such as carpets too.
The basic chemistry of these compounds indicate that they are esters of phosphoric acid, alkyl
phosphates, and ethoxylated secondary alcohols. They also include compounds such as sorbitan
monolaurate and sorbitan monooleate, glycerol stearic acid condensation products such as mono-
and distearate, sodium alkyl sulfonates, neutralized alcohol phosphate, etc. It also includes non-
ionic compounds such as ethoxylated fatty esters, alcohols and alkylamines [51]. An antistatic
finishing of polyamide carpets is done by treating the fabrics with an aqueous film forming
preparation which contains an acid ester of phosphoric acid or phosphorous acid [52].
 • Durable antistatic agents
These are useful for the substrates needing frequent laundering. These are the polymers basically
having hydrophilic groups which helps for dissipation of static charge. These are the derivatives
of polyglycols [53].
9.5.3. Mechanism of antistatic finishing
Most of the finishing agents expected to work as antistatic agents are supposed to suppress the
generation of static charge on the fibre surface when they come in contact with or when they
undergo friction with surfaces of different materials. And if static charge is still developed, they
are supposed to dissipate or conduct it so fast, so that accumulation of such charges does not
occur. Application of these agents causes less or no static charge accumulation on surface of
fabric. Antistatic agents have hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups in their molecular structure.
The hydrophilic part orients itself towards the air and promotes the absorption of moisture,
which is highly conductive, resulting in dissipation of static charge and hence a lot of possible
soiling is avoided and also the problems connected with static charge generation are also
prevented[27].
9.5.4.Evaluation of antistatic finishing agents
AATCC Test Method 134: Electrostatic propensity of carpets
The resultant voltage of a person wearing shoes with standard soles is measured as they walk
across a carpet using the standard procedure. The maximum voltage after 30–60 s is recorded.
AATCC Test Method 76: Electrical resistivity of fabrics
This test determines electrical surface resistivity of fabrics (ohm/square) which is calculated by
determining electrical resistance offered by the antistatic finished fabric placed between two
parallel plates.
AATCC Test Method 115: Electrostatic clinging of fabrics: Fabric to metal test
This test evaluates the clinging tendency of fabrics due to electric charge generation.