Desco TB-7001 User Manual

DESCO INDUSTRIES INC. Technical Bulletin TB-7001

Statguard® Conductive Acrylic Paint
Application Instructions

Figure 1. Statguard® Conductive Acrylic paint.

Description

Statguard® Conductive Acrylic Paint is a one part floor coating
formulated to produce controlled dissipation of static electrical
charges. Statguard® Conductive Acrylic Paint is very effective as a
static control floor coating for electronics manufacturing, assembly,
and storage. It is available in grey (similar to PMS 432) in 1 gallon
(3.8 litres) containers and in 5 gallon (19 litres) containers; and in
light grey (similar to PMS 429) in 5 gallon (19 litres) containers.
The color may vary between production lots.

NOTE: Statguard® Conductive Acrylic Paint has a one year shelf
life from the date of invoice. The product should not be allowed to
freeze. Store at temperatures above 45 degrees as stated in the
Material Safety Data Sheet. We recommend that these products
be stored in their original containers and be sealed when not in
use. We cannot guarantee performance if not properly mixed or is
used after one year from date of sale.

General Guidelines

GROUNDING:

Conventional grounding practices like connecting painted surfaces
to ground or internal building grounds are only required for
applications of Statguard® Conductive Acrylic Paint that are not in
excess of 20 square feet (1.8 square metres). For applications that
are greater than 20 square feet (1.8 square metres), grounding
should not be required. The electrical properties of conductive
paint enable the surface to dissipate 5000 volts to zero in less than

0.01 seconds per FTMS 101C, Method 4046 without conventional
grounds. The conductive paint becomes a capacitive reservoir that
effectively drains static charges.

Foot grounders should be used in conjunction with flooring painted
with Statguard® Conductive Acrylic Paint to properly ground
personnel. For more information, please contact any of the Desco
Industries companies.

Made in America

Surface Preparation

The two most important characteristics for successful application
of Statguard® Conductive Acrylic Paint applications are:

1. The surface must be clean, dry, dull, and smooth. Heavy dirt or
grease build-up should be removed with a stripper or degreaser.
Cleaning methods range from: sweeping, vacuuming, wire brush,
air-blasting, water jet, steam cleaning, or stripping.

2. If the surface is concrete, it must be in good condition.

CONCRETE:

New concrete should cure for a minimum of 28 days before
coating with Statguard® Conductive Acrylic Paint. Not all concrete
is created equal -- concrete surfaces vary widely in physical and
chemical qualities due to the way the concrete was formulated,
poured, or finished.

There are several methods to prepare problem concrete. Each
method depends on the condition of the concrete. Adhesion
properties can be increased by profiling or roughing the surface
through acid etching, rotary drum sanding, scarifying, or
mechanically scratching the surface.

You must test for moisture in the concrete. If moisture is present,
the floor should not be coated until the source of the moisture is
determined and eliminated.

PRIMING:

Statguard® Conductive Acrylic Paint bonds well to clean, dry
concrete. However, a standard industrial primer can be used on
certain difficult to bond substrates and enhance the adhesion of
Statguard® Conductive Acrylic Paint.

PREVIOUSLY PAINTED SURFACES:

The surface should be clean and free of dust, grease, wax, and
soap residue. Wash with ordinary detergent and water. Rinse
thoroughly with clean water and let dry. Glossy surfaces can be
dulled by lightly sanding and then vacuuming and cleaning. Cracks
and holes should be repaired before applying the Statguard®
Conductive Acrylic Paint. Adhesion can be improved by using a
standard industrial type primer.

UNPAINTED SURFACES:

Adhesion can be improved by using a standard industrial type
primer. Metal should be primed with red oxide primer. Concrete,
wood, plastics, and most other surfaces should be properly
cleaned. Let dry and then apply Statguard® Conductive Acrylic
Paint.

COVERAGE:

Statguard® Conductive Acrylic Paint will cover 300 to 400 square
feet (27.87 to 37.16 square metres) at a 1 to 1.5 mil (0.0254 to

0.0381 mm) thick dry film per gallon (3.87 litres) on a smooth
surface. Coverage is less on coarse or textured surfaces. Two
coats are recommended to achieve maximum performance from
the paint.

DESCO INDUSTRIES INC. • 3651 Walnut Avenue, Chino, CA 91710 • [phone] • Fax [phone] • Web Site: DescoIndustries.com

TB-7001 October 2009 Page 1 of 7

© 2009 DESCO INDUSTRIES INC.

Employee Owned

Application

Always use in a well ventilated area or wear
a suitable respirator. Wear appropriate
eye protection such as splash goggles and
impervious type protection gloves to protect
hands.

MIXING

1. Mix paint thoroughly before use (See
Figure 2) using a 500-1500 RPM variable
speed drill and paint mixing attachment or a
paint mixer.

2. If the paint, after properly mixing, is not
freely transferring from the roller to the floor,
the Statguard ESD paint can be thinned with
water up to 10% max by volume.

a. Start by slowly mixing 5% water into the
master container and apply again.

b. Do not add more than 10% of water to
the mix.

APPLICATION BY ROLLER

1. Stir paint thoroughly to mix any
settled solids to produce uniform grey
color.

1.

Mix any settled solids to produce a
uniform grey color.

3.

Saturate a 1/4” fine nap roller with paint,
remove excess paint and trapped air.

Figure 2. Paint application with roller.

2. Combine separate cans of paint into
one container to ensure uniform color distribution. It is
recommended that a
test area be coated to ensure that the adhesion and electrical
performance
of the paint is acceptable. (See Adhesion Testing, Figure 5.) If the
test areas show inadequate adhesion, use an industrial
floor primer/sealer.

3. Saturate a 1/4” (6.35 mm) fine nap roller or an industrial brush
with paint. Remove
excess paint and trapped air from the applicator by moving
applicator several times in the paint tray.

4. A minimum number of strokes from
the applicator on the substrate is
recommended to minimize air bubbles.

2.

Combine separate cans into a larger
container.

4.

A minimum number of strokes from the
applicator is recommended.

Clean Up

Wash applicators with water immediately after painting. Remove
paint spills promptly with a wet cloth. Close container after each
use. Keep container from freezing.

Drying Time

It is recommended that Statguard® Conductive Acrylic Paint be
allowed to dry at a temperature in excess of 45°F (7°C) until dry.

A minimum of 1 to 2 hours drying time should be allowed before
applying the second coat. The finish can be applied after 48-72
hours or until the last coat of paint is cured. Wait a minimum of 12
hours drying time after the last coat before allowing light traffic on
the coated area. At high humidity levels, a longer drying time may
be necessary. Do not force dry.

APPLICATION BY SPRAY

Conventional Spray Gun: “E” fluid tip
and needle and #704, 765 or 78 air
gap.

Airless Spray: Spray gun and spray
cap or suitable orifice diameter

0.020-0.025” (0.508-0.635 mm).
Mix paint thoroughly before using

and stir occasionaly when applying.
No thinning necessary for spray
applications. Room tempera ture must be above 50°F (10°C).

A minimum of two coats of Statguard® Conductive Acrylic Paint is
recommended for appropriate static protection.

DESCO INDUSTRIES INC. • 3651 Walnut Avenue, Chino, CA 91710 • [phone] • Fax [phone] • Web Site: DescoIndustries.com

TB-7001 Page 2 of 7

Figure 3. Spray paint
application

Maintenance

Use sweeper, vacuum, or broom to remove dirt. Allow two weeks
drying time before using a damp mop to clean the coated area.
Do not use abrasive cleaners, floor rinse, or scrubbing machine to
clean the floor.

Finish/Sealer

Desco Statguard® Conductive Acrylic Paint can be overcoated or
sealed with Statguard® Floor Finish static dissipative coating to
increase durability, enhance shine, improve ease of maintenance,
and seal out dirt and debris. Desco Statguard® Conductive Light
Grey Acrylic Paint needs the Statguard® Floor Finish for gloss
and ease of maintenance . Statguard® is a polymer base floor
finish/sealer that can be used as a top coat on the Conductive
Acrylic Paint. Surface resistivity will then be in the 106-107
ohms range. Two coats are recommended. Three coats will
improve electrical properties, durability and reduce frequency of

© 2009 DESCO INDUSTRIES INC.

Employee Owned

1.

2.

Use a razor to cut into a painted, dried

Figure 4. Electrical testing on

floor.

the painted floor using a Surface
Resistance Test Kit.

maintenance. Apply Statguard® Floor Finish
after 48-72 hours after last coat of paint. Paint
becomes dry to the touch, but is not fully cured
to accept a finish coat until this time. If you
notice the paint color coming off when finishing,
it is too soon to apply. Please wait for the
paint to cure fully. Ask for Technical Bulletin
TB-2088 for more information on Statguard®
Floor Finish.

Physical Properties

Type:

Water base acrylic coating

Color:

Grey, Light Grey

Vehicle Type:

Pure acrylic resin waterborne

Pigment Type:

Lead free, iron oxide, titanium dioxide and extenders

Viscosity:

Light Grey 26” #3 Zahn cup
Grey 23” #3 Zahn cup

Solids:

Light Grey 24% by volume
Grey 20% by volume

Coating Density:

Light Grey 9.54 lbs per gallon
Grey 10.27 lbs per gallon (1.0 kilograms per
litre)

Gloss:

Light Grey 2 @ 60°F
Grey 22 @ 60°F (30 @ 60°C)

Temperature Range:

Wet: 33°F - 110°F (1°C - 43°C)
Dry: 33°F - 300°F (1°C - 149°C)
(300°F [149°C] not continuous)

3.

Pull the tape off.

Figure 5. Adhesion test on the painted floor.

Electrical Properties

Surface Resistivity:

Apply tape on the precut area.

4.

Examine the degree of paint separation
from the concrete.

105 ohms/sq. per ASTM D257

Static Charge Decay:

<0.01 sec. per FTMS 101B, Method 4046

Charge Generation:

Zero per AATCC Step Test, Method 134-1979

RTT:

105 ohms per ANSI ESD-S7.1

RTG:

105 ohms per ANSI ESD-S7.1

Testing

Representative areas should be tested for adhesion and electrical
performance of the paint before applying paint to the entire floor. To
best ensure consistent results, the test should be done at various
locations.

ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES:

Test the surface resistivity, point-to-point resistance, and resistance­to-ground properties of coated area per ANSI ESD-S7.1 test method.
For quick and easy verification of the paint’s electrical properties,
we recommend the use of our a Surface Resistance Test Kit (Figure

4). For more information contact any of the Desco Industries Inc.
companies.

ADHESION:

Allow newly applied paint to dry a minimum of 48 hours before
proceeding with the test. At humidity levels over 55% RH, allow 72
hours of drying time before testing. Use a razor to cut a cross or a few
perpendicular lines over a 3” by 3” (75 mm by 75 mm) area on several
spots of the thoroughly dried area. Use a piece of masking tape to
cover the marked area. Make sure the tape is thoroughly adhered to
the test area. Pull the tape off the surface and examine the amount
of paint which has peeled off during the test. If any significant portion
is transferred to the tape, better surface preparation (acid etching,
cleaning or sanding) should be done on the substrate to enhance the
adhesion.

DESCO INDUSTRIES INC. • 3651 Walnut Avenue, Chino, CA 91710 • [phone] • Fax [phone] • Web Site: DescoIndustries.com

TB-7001 Page 3 of 7

© 2009 DESCO INDUSTRIES INC.

Employee Owned