Flexible Conductive Coating for PVC Conveyor Systems
A flexible two-part conductive polymer coating that restores PVC conveyor belts back into the static dissipative range—without belt removal.
Original PVC conveyor belt (foreground) compared with newly applied flexible conductive coating, restoring surface resistivity from >109 Ω/sq to 106–107 Ω/sq without belt removal.
Flexible plastic surfaces such as PVC conveyor belts frequently drift out of ESD compliance as conductive fillers degrade or surface wear increases. In high-reliability manufacturing environments, this can result in surface resistivity rising into the insulative range.
A recent field installation validated a two-part flexible conductive polymer coating developed within the ProShieldESD platform specifically for flexible PVC substrates.
The Problem: Resistivity Drift in Flexible Plastics
The PVC conveyor surface measured:
At this level, the belt no longer provided controlled static dissipation. Replacement was possible, but operational downtime and mechanical intervention were undesirable. Replacing a PVC belt is expensive, so coating/refurbishment is an easier and reliable option.
Material Engineering Approach
This flexible coating variant was engineered for:
- Plasticised PVC substrates
- High-flex mechanical environments
- Roller or in-situ field application
- Primer-free adhesion to prepared PVC
Unlike rigid conductive coatings, this formulation maintains flexibility while embedding a conductive polymer network that enables controlled charge dissipation.
Application & Cure Behaviour
- Surface cleaned with mild solvent
- Two-part system mixed and roller applied
- No belt removal required
- Functional performance verified within 2–3 hours
Post-application surface resistivity measured:
This restored the conveyor surface to the static dissipative range suitable for electronics manufacturing environments.
Durability & Serviceability
The flexible conductive polymer matrix allows:
- Mechanical flex without cracking
- Localised repair capability
- Visible wear identification
- Sustained dissipative performance
If abrasion occurs, localised touch-up restores conductivity without full recoating.
Why This Matters
Historically, flexible ESD surfaces required full mechanical replacement once conductivity was lost. This new ProShieldESD flexible platform enables refurbishment rather than infrastructure replacement, significantly reducing lifecycle cost and production disruption.
Platform Expansion
This development extends the ProShieldESD conductive polymer technology beyond rigid substrates into flexible plastic systems such as:
- PVC conveyor belts
- Flexible mats
- Plastic handling surfaces
For technical evaluation or substrate compatibility assessment, contact the ProShieldESD engineering team.
Explore next steps
Want to evaluate this for your belt material, process conditions, and target resistance range? Use the links below.