Electroactive Polymers as Antistatic Materials.

Current materials used for packaging precision instrument bearings contain minor amounts of antistatic agents, shown earlier to be potential contaminants to both bearing surfaces and lubricants. This investigation reports on conductive electroactive polymers as a novel approach to eliminate completely the need for antistatic additives. Polyacetylene, specially prepared at this laboratory, polyparaphenylene sulfide and a copolymer were modified by chemical doping or implantation with appropriate ions to optimize surface conductivity and oxidation stability. Effects of extended contact with lubricated and unlubricated bearing steel surfaces were examined. Newly available antistatic or conductive materials were also investigated.