Electrical charge static electricity

Many polymers exhibit good electric insulation properties and this makes them prone to accumulate electric charge. Static electricity is generated by the close contact of two materials of different composition, e.g., by rubbing. Dryness is an important factor for the generation of static electricity. Therefore, in winter time the problem of static electricity is still more pronounced. 

An fuel-air mixture explosion can be initiated by a sudden discharge of static electricity. Yet, while flowing in systems, a fluid develops an electrical charge which will take as long to dissipate as the fluid is a poor conductor. The natural electrical conductivity of jet fuel is very low, on the order of a few picosiemens per meter, and it decreases further at low temperature. 

As we have discussed earlier in the context of surfaces and interfaces, the breaking of the inversion synnnetry strongly alters the SFIG from a centrosynnnetric medium. Surfaces and interfaces are not the only means of breaking the inversion synnnetry of a centrosynnnetric material. Another important perturbation is diat induced by (static) electric fields. Such electric fields may be applied externally or may arise internally from a depletion layer at the interface of a semiconductor or from a double-charge layer at the interface of a liquid. 

Wlien an electrical coimection is made between two metal surfaces, a contact potential difference arises from the transfer of electrons from the metal of lower work function to the second metal until their Femii levels line up. The difference in contact potential between the two metals is just equal to the difference in their respective work fiinctions. In the absence of an applied emf, there is electric field between two parallel metal plates arranged as a capacitor. If a potential is applied, the field can be eliminated and at this point tire potential equals the contact potential difference of tlie two metal plates. If one plate of known work fiinction is used as a reference electrode, the work function of the second plate can be detennined by measuring tliis applied potential between the plates [ ]. One can detemiine the zero-electric-field condition between the two parallel plates by measuring directly the tendency for charge to flow through the external circuit. This is called the static capacitor method [59]. 

The electric field of a molecule however is not static but fluctuates rapidly Although on average the centers of positive and negative charge of an alkane nearly coincide at any instant they may not and molecule A can be considered to have a temporary dipole moment... 

Electrical Behavior. The resistivity of acetate varies significantly with humidity with typical values ranging from 10 ohm-cm at 45% rh to 10 ohm-cm at 95% rh (16). Because of the high resistivity both acetate and triacetate yams readily develop static charges and an antistatic finish is usually apphed to aid in fiber processing. Both yams have also been used for electrical insulation after lubricants and other finishing agents are removed. 

Electrically conductive mbber (13) can be achieved by incorporation of conductive fillers, eg, use of carbon or metal powders. These mbbers exhibit volume resistivities as low as lO " H-cm. Apphcations include use in dissipation of static charge and in conductive bridging between dissimilar electronic materials under harsh operating conditions. 

Electrification is the process of producing an electric charge on an object. If the charge is confined to the object it is said to be electrostatic. The term static electricity refers to accumulated, immobile, electrical charges in contrast to charges in rapid flow, which is the subject of electrodynamics. 

Electrostatic charges are also geaerated whea Hquids move ia coatact with other materials, Hquid or sofld, eg, duriag pumping of gasoliae. Serious iadustrial hazards caused by static ia chemical and related fields have been described (28), and a study of accidents ia the chemical iadustry revealed that 115 out of 1600 accideats, or 7%, were ascribed to static electricity (29) (see Plant safety). 

Accumulatioa of electrical charges oa textiles, plastics, and other materials of iasulating character causes problems which occur with greater frequency as the relative humidity decreases, particularly duriag wiater months. Heated rooms ia wiater provide an environment ia which static phenomena are frequeafly appareat. 

Surface Resistivity. Resistance is the measure of the conductivity of a material. Conductive materials have the abiUty to dissipate static charges. Therefore, resistance is a good measure of the abiUty of an object to dissipate a static charge. Since static electricity is primarily a surface phenomenon, the resistance along the surface of the object is of most interest. 

---