Electrostatic phenomena during powder handling

Abstract

During powder handling operations, particles make frequent contact with surfaces often metallic, and become electrically charged due to the process of contact electrification. It is often more appropriate to describes such a contact electrification process as triboelectrification as sliding/frictional contact is invariably involved. Triboelectrification is a complex process as charge exchange involving insulating surfaces takes place. The concept of work function may be applied to some insulator materials, especially those that charge negatively as many polymeric materials do. Surface charging depends upon surface condition and some materials are sensitive to the presence of oxidising agents in the atmosphere and also to the presence of moisture. To quantify the triboelectrification process, the dynamics of particle surface contact must be fully defined and contact area accurately assessed. The dynamic behaviour of charged particles may be significantly dependent upon charge. Space charge fields which exist in charged powder clouds act upon individual particles whose motion depends upon particle electrical mobility. Even in the absence of space charge fields, charged particles experience attractive forces towards nearby neutral surfaces. Upon contact with surfaces, charged particles may adhere strongly by a combination of electrostatic and van der Waals forces. Particle/surface adhesion is important in powder coating applications and in electrostatic precipitators.