1. Static Control for Metallized Webs or Insulating Webs with Conductive Layers
Presented by: Kelly Robinson, PE, PhD Electrostatic Answers

2. Agenda Introduction Static control is important
Static dissipators (powered static bars & passive brushes, tinsel, etc.) are ineffective on webs with conductive layers.
Best Practice Static Control – Web with conductive layers
Mechanical Guards for Static Bars
“Safe Edges”
“Bus Bars”
“Static Splices” for Metallized Webs
Summary

3. 1. Controlling static is important!
Prevent shocks.
1. Eliminate ignitions.
Minimize deposition of airborne contaminates

4. 1. Controlling static is important!
Prevent static problems in customer applications (sheet sticking, process jams).
Image courtesy of
PSA Label
Release liner
Prevent spark damage to sensitive coatings such as silicone release liners. (Sparks damage the coatings allowing PSA labels to stick to liners).

5. 1. Static dissipators - Insulating webs
Static charges on the insulating web attract oppositely charged corona ions generated by the static dissipator.

6. 1. Static dissipators – Webs with Conductive Layers
Electric fields from static charges on the web extend only to the conductive layer. Corona ions generated by the static bar are not attracted by the static charges on the web.

7. Agenda Introduction Static control is important
Static dissipators (powered static bars & passive brushes, tinsel, etc.) are ineffective on webs with conductive layers.
Best Practice Static Control – Web with conductive layers
Mechanical Guards for Static Bars
“Safe Edges”
“Bus Bars”
“Static Splices” for Metallized Webs
Summary

8. 2. Static Control – Summary
Static control for webs with conductive layers depends on 3 key parameters.

9. 2. Best Practice Static Control – Web with Insulating Areas
Static can accumulate on insulating areas of the web.
Use static dissipators to neutralize static in insulating areas.

10. 2. Best Practice Static Control – Guard Static Bars
Mechanical guard static bars below the web so that the web does not drape across the static bar when web tension is lost.

11. 2. Best Practice Static Control – Buried Conductive Layer
Design products with buried conductive layers to have “Safe Edges” of at least 10 mm.

12. Design products with conductive traces / patterns with “Bus Bars.”
2. Best Practice Static Control –Webs with Conductive Traces / Patterns
Design products with conductive traces / patterns with “Bus Bars.”

13. Agenda Introduction Static control is important
Static dissipators (powered static bars & passive brushes, tinsel, etc.) are ineffective on webs with conductive layers.
Best Practice Static Control – Web with conductive layers
Mechanical Guards for Static Bars
“Safe Edges”
“Bus Bars”
“Static Splices” for Metallized Webs
Summary

14. Sparks can occur at splices in metallized webs.
3. “Static Splices” for Metallized Webs
Sparks can occur at splices in metallized webs.

15. Concept – “Static Splice”
3. “Static Splices” for Metallized Webs
Concept – “Static Splice”

16. 3. “Static Splices” for Metallized Webs
Make a strong splice

17. Static Splice – cross-section
3. “Static Splices” for Metallized Webs
Static Splice – cross-section

18. 4. Summary Introduction Static control is important
Static dissipators (powered static bars & passive brushes, tinsel, etc.) are ineffective on webs with conductive layers.
Best Practice Static Control – Web with conductive layers
Use static dissipators to neutralize static on insulating areas
Mechanical Guards for Static Bars
“Safe Edges”
“Bus Bars”
“Static Splices” for Metallized Webs

19. Thank-you! QUESTIONS ?
Static dissipators are ineffective on webs with conductive layers.
Use static dissipators to neutralize static on insulating areas
Mechanical Guards for Static Bars
“Safe Edges”
“Bus Bars”
“Static Splices”

20. Speaker Introduction Kelly Robinson, PE, PhD
Owner – Electrostatic Answers LLC •
Business Owner - Founded Electrostatic Answers, an engineering consulting company dedicated to eliminating injury and waste from static electricity.
Industrial Experience – working over 25 years solving static problems in web conveyance and solvent handling manufacturing operations.
Award Winning Engineer US Nat’l Fire Protection Assoc. (NFPA), Chair - Static Electricity Committee IEEE Fellow - “for contributions to electrostatic performance of mfg. processes” Electrostatics Society of America - Distinguished Service Award AIMCAL - John Matteucci Award, excellence in technical presentations PhD Electrical Engineering - Colorado State University
Inventor with 14 US patents.
Associate Editor for the Journal of Electrostatics, a leading peer reviewed journal (Elsevier publication)
Contributing Editor, Paper Film & Foil Converter, author of “Static Beat” column on static control.