Ethan Clarke
It is a common misconception that plastics do not conduct electricity. In 2000, Alan MacDiarmid, along with his colleagues, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for proving that plastics can conduct electricity under certain circumstances. For example, by adding iodine to the polymer, the conductivity of the plastic can be increased. This discovery has led to the development of various highly stable conductive polymers with comparable electrical conductivity levels to copper, which have wide-ranging applications in LED technology, display production, and solar cells. This has important implications for safety, as insulating materials such as plastic containers can accumulate and hold electrostatic charges, leading to potential ignition risks in certain industries. Therefore, understanding the electrical properties of plastic storage bins is crucial for ensuring safe handling and usage.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Conductivity | Plastics are generally considered insulators, but certain plastics can conduct electricity under specific conditions. |
| Electrostatic Charge | Plastic storage bins can accumulate and hold electrostatic charges, leading to "brush discharges." |
| Flammability | The electrostatic discharges from charged plastics can ignite flammable vapors or explosible dust clouds, posing a safety risk. |
| Anti-Static Measures | Anti-static bags and liners are available to prevent electrostatic discharges and protect sensitive electronic components. |
| Applications | Conductive plastics have applications in LED technology, displays, solar cells, and chemical/pharmaceutical industries |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic is an insulator
Plastic is made up of polymers, which are long, repeating chains of macromolecules. These long chains of molecules are tightly bound but extremely flexible, so they can form and mold into various shapes. This elasticity is why plastic is used for dip molding and dip coating. It is also why plastic is such a good insulator.
Plastic containers, plastic powder scoops, insulating linings of pipes, insulating drum liners, and spiral-reinforced hoses are all examples of insulating materials. These materials can accumulate and hold electrostatic charge for hours or days, and if they hold enough charge, 'brush discharges' can be drawn from the surface.
While plastic is generally a good insulator, it is important to note that under certain circumstances, plastic can conduct electricity. For example, by adding iodine to the polymer, scientists have succeeded in increasing the conductivity of the plastic. This discovery led to the development of conductive polymers with comparable electrical conductivity levels to copper. These conductive plastics have wide-ranging applications, such as in LED technology and the production of efficient displays or solar cells.
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Plastic can conduct electricity under certain circumstances
It is a common misconception that plastics are unable to conduct electricity. While it is true that plastics are often used as insulators, such as in electrical wiring, they can in fact conduct electricity under certain circumstances.
The idea that plastics can conduct electricity was proven by Alan MacDiarmid, Alan J. Heeger, and Hideki Shirakawa in the early 1970s. The team of scientists was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their discovery in 2000. During the polymerisation of acetylene, Shirakawa, a chemist in Tokyo, accidentally created polyacetylene (PAC), a plastic with conductive properties. By adding iodine to the polymer, the scientists increased the conductivity of the plastic. MacDiarmid explained that iodine is a strong oxidant that attracts the electrons in the polymer, causing the electric charge carriers to become more agile and able to flow, similar to metals.
Polyacetylene was the first plastic to be known as a conductor of electricity. The conductive properties of polyacetylene were due to the addition of oxidants, although this initially high level of conductivity was reduced by the oxidants' reaction with atmospheric oxygen. Today, there are various highly stable conductive polymers available with comparable electricity conductivity to copper. These conductive plastics have many applications, including in LED technology and the production of solar cells.
While plastics can conduct electricity in certain circumstances, they are often still considered insulators, particularly in relation to static electricity. Plastic containers, for example, can accumulate and hold an electrostatic charge, which can then produce brush discharges. However, these discharges are limited in energy and do not indicate that the plastic itself is conducting electricity.
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Plastic containers can accumulate and hold electrostatic charge
It is a well-known fact that metals conduct electricity while plastics do not. However, this notion has been challenged by scientists, who have discovered that plastics can, in fact, conduct electricity under certain circumstances. This discovery led to Alan MacDiarmid, along with his colleagues, being awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2000.
Plastic containers, being made of insulating materials, can accumulate and hold electrostatic charge for extended periods. This occurs when plastics are rubbed with a cloth, causing them to acquire a net electrostatic charge, similar to a party balloon rubbed against a shirt. The ambient humidity or moisture on the surface can influence the intensity and duration of the charge.
The accumulation of electrostatic charge on plastic surfaces can result in brush discharges. These discharges occur when electricity flows from a charged object, such as a finger, to the plastic surface, ionizing the air in the process. While the charge in the immediate area is quickly neutralized, the insulating property of plastic prevents the charge from conducting across its surface. However, moving the charged object across the plastic can induce additional brush discharges.
In certain industries, such as chemicals and pharmaceuticals, the build-up of electrostatic charge on plastic containers can have serious consequences. If the charge is significant, brush discharges can ignite common solvent vapors or interact with flammable liquids and gases, leading to potential safety hazards. Therefore, it is crucial to understand and control electrostatic discharges to ensure process safety.
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Connecting a grounding cable to plastic will not do any good
It is a well-known fact that metals conduct electricity, while plastics do not. However, this notion has been challenged by scientists, and it is now recognized that plastics can conduct electricity under certain circumstances. In 2000, Alan MacDiarmid, along with his colleagues, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for this discovery. They found that by adding iodine to the polymer, the conductivity of the plastic could be increased. This led to the development of conductive polymers with electricity conductivity levels comparable to copper.
Despite this discovery, connecting a grounding cable to plastic will not yield any benefits. Plastic is an insulator, and static charge does not flow across its surface. Therefore, attaching a grounding cable will not effectively dissipate static electricity.
In certain scenarios, such as when using insulating drums or liners, a build-up of static charge can occur, leading to brush discharges. These discharges can be energetic and pose safety risks, especially in industries handling flammable liquids and gases. However, simply connecting a grounding cable to the plastic surface will not mitigate this issue.
To address the risks associated with static electricity, it is crucial to understand and control the factors that influence it. For example, ambient humidity and surface moisture can impact the behavior of static charge on plastic surfaces. While high humidity or a wet surface may influence the conductivity, simply connecting a grounding cable will not be an effective solution.
In summary, while plastics can conduct electricity under specific conditions, connecting a grounding cable to plastic will not be beneficial in managing static electricity. It is important to recognize the limitations of this approach and explore alternative solutions to ensure safety in various applications.
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Iodine increases the conductivity of plastic
For a long time, the consensus was that metals conduct electricity, and plastics don't. However, in the early 1970s, it was discovered that plastics can, in fact, conduct electricity under certain circumstances. In 2000, Alan MacDiarmid, Hideki Shirakawa, and Alan J. Heeger were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work in proving that plastics can conduct electricity.
One way to increase the conductivity of plastics is by adding iodine to the polymer. Iodine is a halogen and a strong oxidant, and it attracts the electrons in the polymer very effectively. The consequence of this is that the electric charge carriers in the polymer become packed less densely, become more agile, and can flow, much like in metals.
Polyacetylene was the first plastic to be recognised as a conductor of electricity. The conductive properties of polyacetylene were attributable to the addition of oxidants, which also react with atmospheric oxygen, leading to a reduction in the conductivity level. The electrical conductivity of polyacetylene was found to increase with the addition of iodine.
The addition of iodine to polymers has been found to increase the optical absorbance and electrical conductivity while decreasing the thermal stability of the polymer. The dopant iodine molecules provide links between the polymer molecules in the amorphous region, resulting in the formation of CTCs. The electrical conduction follows Ohm's law at lower fields, while at higher fields, space-charge limited current (SCLC) is observed.
Iodine doping of PVA film has also been found to have an effect on its dielectric properties, with the values of dielectric permittivity and dielectric loss varying with an increase in iodine concentration. The electrical conductivity of PVA films was found to increase with an increase in temperature from 150°C to 170°C, stabilising at 180°C, and then dropping from 200°C to 240°C, finally levelling off at 250°C.
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Frequently asked questions
No, plastic storage bins do not conduct electricity as they are made of insulating materials. However, plastic can accumulate and hold an electrostatic charge, which can lead to brush discharges that can ignite solvent vapors.
Static electricity can build up in plastic storage bins, potentially damaging sensitive electronic components. This is known as electrostatic discharge (ESD) and can be mitigated by using anti-static or static shielding bags.
To safely store electronic components in plastic storage bins, you can use anti-static or static shielding bags, which are designed to prevent ESD. It is also recommended to handle the components with care and avoid rubbing them against the plastic walls to minimize the risk of static electricity build-up.
Yes, metal containers are often used to store electronic components as they can provide grounding and protect against static electricity. However, metal containers may be more expensive and less convenient for transportation compared to plastic storage bins.
