Anti-static Piping Systems

SIGMA manufactures lined pipes and fittings with static dissipating liners, commonly referred to as having ‘Antistatic’ properties. By combining the PTFE or PFA fluoropolymers with a small amount of carbon filler the liners are able to conduct any build up of static charge from the bore of the pipe to the steelwork.

Why use Static Dissipating Lined Piping?

There are many ways that electrostatic charge can be generated and accumulated.Static electricity develops when two different materials are brought together and then separated, one of the materials acquires electrons from the other material and becomes positively charged.

In pipelines carrying low conductivity fluids, the fluid can lose some of its electrons and these can accumulate or ‘charge’ the pipework. This process is known as flow electrification, the charge build-up increases as flow velocity and pipe nominal bore increase.

SIGMA’s standard virgin fluoropolymers have excellent insulating properties typically1016 ohms, so in certain situations, electrical charge can accumulate on the liner surface through flow electrification. Sigma’s static dissipating liners allow any buildup of charge to safely dissipate through the liner to the steel pipe. For the electrical charge to dissipate to earth the steel pipe must be sufficiently earthed, typically using earth bonding clamps, spiked washers, star washers on bolts, earthing studs or lugs etc.

The fillers used to provide the electrical continuity do not impair in any way the mechanical and chemical resistance of the liners. They exhibit the same performance as virgin liners, the conducting agent used within the liners are stable and are not subjected to chemical attack and will not leak into the process fluids.

All of our lined pipe and fittings range can be supplied with static dissipating liners,we can also supply ball valves, check valves, sight glasses etc. with static dissipating liner. For more information on our range of piping please use the menu on the left.