Abstract:
An antistatic agent comprising a water-soluble electroconductive polymer comprising at least a repeating unit having a sulfo group-containing isothianaphthenylene structure; a method for suppressing electrification of an article during the production or use of the article by forming an electroconductive film comprising the water-soluble electroconductive polymer on the article; an article of which electrification is suppressed by having an electroconductive film comprising the water-soluble conductive polymer on the article; and a method for observing or inspecting an article with suppressing electrification thereof during irradiation with charged particle beams by forming an electroconductive film comprising the water-soluble electroconductive polymer on the article. The electroconductive film retains the electrification-suppressing effect and removability stably even when subjected to a heat treatment or left to stand for a long period of time. The antistatic agent can be formulated into a film-forming antistatic composition which can be used at any pH value from acidic to basic and which is excellent in storage stability.