Process for incorporating an ion-conducting polymer into a polymeric article to achieve anti-static behavior

A process for producing an electrostatic discharge material comprising, contacting at least a part of a surface of a polymeric article with a solvent mixture for a time and at a temperature sufficient to infuse at least a portion of the solvent mixture into the article, the solvent mixture containing;

• (a) water,
• (b) a carrier conforming to
• R1—[—O—(CH2)n]mOR2
• wherein R1 and R2 independently denote a radical selected from the group consisting of linear and branched C1-18 alkyl, benzyl, benzoyl, phenyl and H,
• wherein n is 2 or 3, and m is 1-35, and
• (c) an acid H+X−, wherein X− represents a halide anion selected from the group consisting of F−, Cl−, Br−, or I−,
• optionally,
• (d) a surface leveling agent,
• wherein the polymeric article comprises a host polymer and an immobilized mass fraction of an amine functional species, wherein the resulting electrostatic discharge material has a treated surface layer containing a polyamine hydrohalide and a surface resistivity between about 1×105 Ω/□ and about 1×1012 Ω/□.