Can I use Laponite® to make conductive/ antistatic paints?
Laponite® particles are intrinsically conductive and the product is widely used to make conductive/ antistatic treatments on surfaces such as paper and polymer films. In order for Laponite® to be an effective conductivising agent it must be present as the main component in the coating formulation. A typical conductivising formulation would contain 100 parts Laponite® JS to 10 – 20 parts emulsion resin binder at a total solids content of ~20%. When such a coating is applied onto a surface and dried, it ensures maximum and intimate contact of Laponite® particles with each other. As a result of this, the film is conductive. However, when Laponite® is included as an additive in a paint formulation, at e.g. <1%, then the other particulate components in the formulation, such as resins, fillers & extenders, will act as insulators and prevent the Laponite® particles coming into close contact with each other. As a result of this, combined insulation & dilution effect, Laponite® does not cause t
