FTTS-FA-009 　Antistatic Textiles

The category, Antistatic Textiles mainly comprises products that conform to safety regulations for environments that are highly inflammable or explosive. However, the category also includes products used in operating rooms to prevent static electricity from interfering with medical equipment. In environments with low humidity (very dry), the human body can produce a significant charge of static electricity. Antistatic textiles prevent the body from suffering electric shocks due to static discharge. These products usually consist of metallic fiber blended with cotton, polyester, twisted or interwoven , as well as fiber containing “conductive carbon black“. For example, Nega-Stat® by Barnet is a fine-filament bi-component yarn. Each filament has a unique, patented, “trilobal-carbon” conducting core surrounded by a sheath of polyester.

Four main measures are used to evaluate the antistatic function of textiles
1. Surface-charge resistance
2. Friction-charge electrostatic potential
3. Half-time
4. Decay time

Taiwan technology for Antistatic Textiles maintains perfect resistance to frictional charge up to 1000 Volts (JIS L1094-B). The goal is Zero Voltage, or perfect resistance, with surface resistance below 1010Ω/sq (DIN 54345).

Scope

This criterion is applicable to textiles in all forms, including woven, knitted, coated/laminated fabric and non-woven. To consider the durability, the pretreatment, ex: repeated laundering, weathering, may be required.

Performance specification

3.1 Grade and Classification based on this specification

Frictional charge (V)

Grade

Classification

Knitted / Woven

warp and weft

V＜100

3

Excellent

100≦V＜500

2

Good

500≦V＜1000

1

Fair

 

Surface resistance (Ω)

Grade

Classification

1x104≦Ω＜1x106

3

Excellent

1x106≦Ω＜1x109

2

Good

1x109≦Ω＜1x1012

1

Fair

 

Decay time (Second)

Grade

Classification

S＜0.01

3

Excellent

0.01≦S＜0.5

2

Good

0.5≦S＜2

1

Fair

3.2 General requirement for pretreatment

Item

General Requirement

Test Method

Washing
Durability

tested in original state, after 20 washes, 50 washes (refer to note 1)

(A) woven, coated/laminated fabric and non-woven fabric: washed based on AATCC 135 (1)Ⅲ(A)ii; knitted: washed based on AATCC 135 (2)Ⅲ(A)ii (refer to note 2)
(B)washed based on JIS L0217-103 (refer to note 2)

Note 1
The treatment of washing durability may be varied upon agreement.

Note 2
The washing condition for Surface resistivity and Decay time test should be based on AATCC 135; The washing method for Surface resistance test should be according to JIS L0217-103