Polymerized ionic liquids as durable antistatic agents for polyether-based polyurethanes

Ionic liquid (IL) fillers, which are composed of polymerized [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, were applied as antistatic agents for polyether-based polyurethane (PU). Surface and volume resistivities of 10 10 Ω sq −1 and 10 8 Ω cm, which are hundred times smaller than those of pristine PU and also are desired values for realizing antistatic effects, were achieved at the concentration of fillers of only 1000 ppm. The fillers exhibited excellent antistatic effect, equivalent to the effect caused by conventional ILs, even though the fillers are solid particles. Temperature dependence of ionic conductivity of the intrinsic fillers was found to follow the Arrhenius model, while that of the filler-PU composites followed the Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann model. This suggests that IL units of the fillers are effectively dissociated in the polyether matrix, and migration of the dissociated ions occurs associated with the relaxation of polyether chains. Employing the polymerized ILs, the reduced resistivity was retained also after ultrasonication treatment of films in methanol. The polymerized IL fillers are concluded to be promising additives for the sustainable and durable antistatic treatment of polyurethanes.