Electrostatic discharge properties of knitted copper wire/glass fiber fabric reinforced polypropylene composites

This paper presents a study on the development conductive knitted fabric reinforced thermoplastic composites, with the intention to use them in electrostatic discharge applications. Conductive knitted fabric composites are made using polypropylene as the matrix material, glass fibers as the reinforcement, and copper wires as the conductive fillers. To facilitate knitting of stiff copper wires and glass fibers, uncommingled yarns comprising copper wires, glass fibers, and polypropylene fibers are produced using a hollow spindle spinning method. Several kinds of conductive composite laminates are made by changing the fabric knit structure, stitch density, and the composition of yarns. The electrostatic discharge (ESD) attenuation of various laminates is measured at voltage potentials 8kV and 12 kV. The variations of ESD properties of composite laminates with the fabric knit structure, stitch density, and the amount of copper are described.