Investigation of a test methodology for triboelectrification

Parameters governing the net charging due to triboelectrification are reviewed for metal/metal, metal/insulator and insulator/insulator interfaces. Equations are developed to model the rate of net charge build-up and the resulting net charge for typical situations. The net charge is a function of the materials in contact, area, the environment, and dissipation processes which are a function of the ambient conditions, the materials and the presence of ground planes. To evaluate the triboelectrification phenomenon, an in situ test method must be capable of determining the saturation charge density levels possible for the materials under test in a particular engineering application.