Correlations between mechanical and tribocharging properties of polymers
Résumé
Electrostatic charging through friction, also designated as “tribo-charging”, is determined by the nature of the materials in contact and the characteristics of the relative motion between them. The aim of the present study is to point out that the different mechanical properties of the polymers in contact may influence the outcome of the tribo- charging process. The materials are characterized with a universal testing machine and a hardness tester followed by tribo-charging using a laboratory bench. The relative speed of the two polymer plates in conformal contact is varied between 12 to 50 mm/s, and the amplitude of the strokes is adjusted between 36 to 60 mm. The distribution of the electric charge at the surface of the polymers is measured by the capacitive probe of an electrostatic voltmeter (± 10 kV). The results of the experiments show that the control variables of the tribo-charging process should be adjusted in relation with the mechanical properties of bodies in contact.