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

This paper presents a study on the development conductive knitted fabric re inforced thermoplastic composites, with the intention to use them in electr ostatic discharge applications. Conductive knitted fabric composites are ma de using polypropylene as the matric; material, glass fibers as the reinfor cement, and copper wires as the conductive fillers. To facilitate knitting of stiff copper wires and glass fibers, uncommingled yams comprising copper wires, glass fibers, and polypropylene fibers are produced using a hollow spindle spinning method. Several kinds of conductive composite laminates ar e made by changing the fabric knit structure, stitch density, and the compo sition of yarns. The electrostatic discharge (ESD) attenuation of various l aminates is measured at voltage potentials 8kV and 12 kV. The variations of ESD properties of composite laminates with the fabric knit structure, stit ch density, and the amount of copper are described.