Improving Safety by Controlling Electrostatic Electricity
Improving Safety by Controlling Electrostatic ElectricityFor more information and details on this technology, email research@43.242.212.253
Research being undertaken by Amrita Poyekar at the IITB-Monash Research Academy is looking at developing and improving materials. The newly engineered materials will prevent undesired charge accumulation through electrostatic charge dissipation, thereby eliminating the risk of an electrical charge causing damage. This material could then be used in personal safety equipment, such as shoes and gloves as a preventative safety measure.
Currently available polymer blends (that contain conducting filler) require a high concentration of expensive filler. These may also hamper some of the mechanical properties of the polymers in the presence of a high concentration of conductive fillers. Poyekar’s research studies the dispersion of Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes (“MWNTs”) and their behaviour in polymer blends. By studying the behaviour of MWNTs under different processing conditions and surface modifying agents, this research is seeking to determine how to reduce their concentration in material blends without compromising the properties of the material.