Conductive Polystyrene Bead Foam Material

摘要

Polystyrene bead foam has excellent qualities for use in packaging. However, its very high electrical resistance permits the buildup of electrostatic charges which may be a problem for some items, such as explosive devices. A paint was found that adheres well to polystyrene bead foam and affords an electrically conductive surface that readily discharges any electrostatic charges imposed on it. The al ternate method for making the polystyrene bead foam conductive by adding the conductive material prior to forming the foam was tried with beads coated with carbon. The resulting foamed specimens had suitable electrical conductivities but were unsatisfactory because of their low structural strengths.