1. Antistatics

1.1 Origin of electrostatic charges in polymers

The ability of polymers to become statically charged is due to their molecular structure. This results in low conductance (1/R ) and surface conductivity, preventing charges from flowing quickly and being eliminated; the slow flow means that positively and negatively charged areas can be adjacent to each other on the surface of the same material [1] . Charges can arise either through contact with metals or other dielectrics that are already charged, or through repeated deformation (piezoelectricity) or friction (triboelectricity) [2] . If the bonds holding the surface layers of a material together are electrical...