PFFC - October 2008 - (Page 49)

STATIC CONTROL “All of our web processes are 65 inches wide, and with polycoated papers, we can build up a tremendous charge where you’ll see arcing,” he explains. “And it can arc through the release liner, which would not release from the transfer tape on the spot. You wind up with picking, which obviously is not what you want.” Side-by-side evaluations were performed on five such products: anti-static tinsel, static elastic, static wire, and two types of static string. Each anti-static product was prepared and then installed one after the other in static “hot-spots” along the production line. The static level was measured in a free-space (an ample distance from any rollers) ten minutes after the start of a production run. Precise measurement of the static charge over a free-span web surface was performed with a hand-held electrostatic field meter. The testing procedure was repeated for five different pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) products with nonconductive web surfaces composed of a variety of materials. Non-Contact String Provides Solution The test results showed that alternative passive ionizer methods can provide better static control than tinsel. In fact, one product, Static String from StopStatic.com, a div. of Alpha Innovation, provided significantly better static control for all five web surfaces tested, says Acquista. The Static String product consistently maintained static levels below the “5,000 volts rule” established by Albert E. Seaver in 1993 and generally accepted as the industry safety standard. Static String outperformed other passive ionizer products, including a similar string product from another manufacturer, explains Acquista. WWW.PFFC-ONLINE.COM An advantage of the Static String product is that it is effective when installed 0.25–2 in. away from the web, says Acquista. Because it does not need to make contact with the web, it lessens the possibility of web damage, coating damage, or contamination. The Static String product also was found to be relatively easy to install and remove, especially compared to tinsel, says Acquista. When installed correctly, tests at Adchem showed Static String consistently reduced electric charge below the desired level of 5 kV in all products tested to date. As a result, the measured static level on all machines has been reduced. Moreover, the Adchem plant has eliminated the risk of product contamination by pieces of copper tinsel and therefore can guarantee a higher level of quality control, says Acquista. “We’re not a salesman for any vendor,” he stresses. “We just wanted the best solution we could find to protect our interests and the interests of our customers. Static String reduces the safety hazard, the chance of contamination, and the chance of it tearing through the silicone release to destroy the product. “Now we feel more comfortable running our equipment,” says Acquista. “Now we can do it right.” Contributing editor Edward Boyle, based in Reading, PA, has covered the converting industry for more than 24 years. Contact him at EJB Communications; 610-670-4680; ejbcomm@aol.com. Installation of StopStatic.com Static String at Adchem’s facility for static control efficiency testing. Static Interference By Charlie Acquista, Adchem Corp. Here are some of the concerns faced by converters and suppliers that handle substrates converted on high-speed webs: u Personal Safety | An electrostatic discharge (ESD) can be painful and cause burns, cardiac problems, and even death. In addition to the direct health effects of exposure to electrical current, there is also the secondary hazard of operators suddenly recoiling from the shock and injuring themselves by falling against dangerous machinery. u Explosion and Equipment Damage | Static discharge is a spark. Areas with flammable liquids or gases, such as solvents, must remain spark-free at all times. Electrostatic discharge can have sufficient energy to ignite hazardous vapors in coating heads and gravure printing operations. An ESD event also can disrupt logic in PLCs and sensing equipment, causing processing errors and costly downtime. u Damage to the Adhesive System | Static buildup and ESD events can damage the pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) release liner of the product being unwound. When the silicone coating is disrupted by static, it will no longer function as a release system in the area affected by the discharge. The adhesive will “split” between two sides of release liner. Alternatively, the liner can fail to release where it is damaged, making it very difficult to remove the liner as designed. u Equipment Jams | The accumulation of electrostatic charges can cause problems, even if ESD events do not occur. If static charges are not neutralized, sheets of material will stick together, creating jams in downstream processes. u Product Damage | Electrostatic fields also attract dust particles, fibers, bugs, and hair, which result in surface contamination. This causes obvious quality problems in printing, coating, and laminating, as well as cleanliness problems with medical PSA applications. Moreover, static charges can cause uneven coatings and “wicking” of inks, and p-s tape carrying a static charge can damage sensitive electronic components. uSupplier Infot uAlpha Innovation | www.stopstatic.com PFFC-ASAP 356 Want To Learn More? Find information on static elimination at www.pffc-online.com. Click on the Surface Prep button for one-stop browsing of our archives. Also see What’s New Products starting on p54. OCTOBER 2008 | 49 http://www.stopstatic.com http://www.pffc-online.com http://www.pffc-online.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of PFFC - October 2008

PFFC - October 2008 Contents First Glance Calendar of Events From the Editor Web Lines Process Management News Clips Narrow Web & Label Reporter Narrow Web & Label What's New Products Shrink Sleeves Carton & Box Reporter Carton & Box What's New Products Cover Story - Custom Coating Core Shafts Show Preview Flexo Printing Film Converting Static Control UV/EB Inks What's New Products Trade Show in Print Services Directory Classified Marketplace Equipment Buyers & Sellers Advertisers Index Experience Speaks

PFFC - October 2008

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