Antistatic properties of DYMCO’s stainless steel conveyor belts

Recently, one of our customers replaced a plastic belt with one of our stainless steel belts to allow for antistatic transport of ceramic powders. It is important to understand the reason behind that decision.

One of the most remarkable characteristics of stainless steel conveyor belts is the ability to discharge static electricity through a simple ground wire.

Static electricity is the result of an imbalance between negative and positive charges in a particular object. These charges can build up on the surface of an object until they find a way to be released or discharged. The rubbing of certain materials against one another can transfer negative charges, or electrons to the belt.

This phenomenon has important implications when a conveyor belt is used to transport certain materials such as electronic parts, semiconductors, films, and other electrostatic sensitive materials or products.

On belt conveyors, the belt surface is continually rotating around the pulley surface, generating static electricity. As the conveyor continues to operate, the static energy will continue to accumulate and increase unless it is discharged using a ground wire.

Stainless steel conveyor belts are conductive, allowing free flow of electrons throughout the belt itself. Therefore, static electricity can be discharged using a ground wire.

On the other hand, plastic and rubber belts, are made of insulating materials that do not allow the free flow of electrons or protons, which are firmly attached to the belt, causing static electricity to accumulate and affect sensitive products such as semiconductors, electronic parts, films, medicines, testing equipment parts, etc.

Dymco’s steel belt conveyor belts are the ideal product when applications such as those described above are implemented , effectively discharging static electricity and improving the performance and quality of your production needs.

Call or write today and experience the Dymco’s difference.