The triboelectric effect is a type of contact electrification in which certain materials become electrically charged after they come into contact with another different material and are then separated (such as through rubbing). The polarity and strength of the charges produced differ according to the materials, surface roughness, temperature, strain, and other properties. Beyond overall skin structure, refer below to: See-also. ... Modern leather-working tools Leather is a material created through the tanning of hides and skins of animals, primarily cattlehide. ... Genera Pentalagus Bunolagus Nesolagus Romerolagus Brachylagus Sylvilagus Oryctolagus Poelagus Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world. ... For other uses, see Fur (disambiguation). ... This article is about the material. ... Quartz (from German Quarz[1]) is the second most common mineral in the Earths continental crust. ... Rock with mica Mica sheet Mica flakes The mica group of sheet silicate minerals includes several closely related materials having highly perfect basal cleavage. ... For the film, see Hair (film). ... For other uses of this word, see nylon (disambiguation). ... Long and short hair wool at the South Central Family Farm Research Center in Boonesville, Arizona Wool is the fiber derived from the fur of animals and people of the Caprinae family, principally sheep, but the hair of certain species of other mammals such as goats and rabbits and oxes... For Pb as an abbreviation, see PB. General Name, Symbol, Number lead, Pb, 82 Chemical series Post-transition metals or poor metals Group, Period, Block 14, 6, p Appearance bluish gray Standard atomic weight 207. ... Binomial name Felis catus Linnaeus, 1758 Synonyms Felis lybica invalid junior synonym The cat (or domestic cat, house cat) is a small carnivorous mammal. ... For other uses, see Fur (disambiguation). ... For other uses of this word, see Silk (disambiguation). ... Aluminum is a soft and lightweight metal with a dull silvery appearance, due to a thin layer of oxidation that forms quickly when it is exposed to air. ... For other uses, see Paper (disambiguation). ... Cotton ready for harvest. ... For other uses, see Steel (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Wood (disambiguation). ... Structure of PMMA: (C5O2H8)n Structure of methyl methacrylate Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or polymethyl-2-methylpropanoate is the synthetic polymer of methyl methacrylate. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Letters sealed with sealing wax in a painting by Cornelis Norbertus Gysbrechts (1665). ... Structure of methyl methacrylate, the monomer that makes up PMMA Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or poly(methyl 2-methylpropenoate) is the synthetic polymer of methyl methacrylate. ... Polystyrene (IPA: ) is a polymer made from the monomer styrene, a liquid hydrocarbon that is commercially manufactured from petroleum by the chemical industry. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... Balloons, like greeting cards or flowers, are given for special occasions. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Nickel (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Copper (disambiguation). ... General Name, Symbol, Number sulfur, S, 16 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 16, 3, p Appearance lemon yellow Standard atomic weight 32. ... For other uses, see Brass (disambiguation). ... General Name, Symbol, Number silver, Ag, 47 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 5, d Appearance lustrous white metal Standard atomic weight 107. ... GOLD refers to one of the following: GOLD (IEEE) is an IEEE program designed to garner more student members at the university level (Graduates of the Last Decade). ... General Name, Symbol, Number platinum, Pt, 78 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 10, 6, d Appearance grayish white Standard atomic weight 195. ... An acetate, or ethanoate, is a salt or ester of acetic acid. ... Rayon is a manufactured regenerated cellulosic fiber. ... Synthetic rubber is any type of artificially made polymer material which acts as an elastomer. ... SEM picture of a bend in a high surface area polyester fiber with a seven-lobed cross section Polyester is a category of polymers, or, more specifically condensation polymers, which contain the ester functional group in their main chain. ... C8H8 redirects here. ... Styrofoam is a trademark name for polystyrene thermal insulation material, manufactured by Dow Chemical Company. ... Acrylic fibers are synthetic fibers made from a strong and durable plastic. ... Saran is the trade name for a number of polymers made from vinylidene chloride (especially polyvinylidene chloride or PVDC), along with other monomers. ... A polyurethane is any polymer consisting of a chain of organic units joined by urethane links. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Scotch Tape denotes the line of adhesive tapes manufactured by 3M as part of the companys Scotch brand. ... Polypropylene lid of a Tic Tacs box, with a living hinge and the resin identification code under its flap Micrograph of polypropylene Polypropylene or polypropene (PP) is a thermoplastic polymer, made by the chemical industry and used in a wide variety of applications, including food packaging, ropes, textiles, plastic parts... Chemical structure of the vinyl functional group. ... Polyvinyl chloride Polyvinyl chloride, (IUPAC Polychloroethene) commonly abbreviated PVC, is a widely used thermoplastic polymer. ... General Name, Symbol, Number silicon, Si, 14 Chemical series metalloids Group, Period, Block 14, 3, p Appearance as coarse powder, dark grey with bluish tinge Standard atomic weight 28. ... Teflon is polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a polymer of fluorinated ethylene. ... Silicones (more accurately called polymerized siloxanes or polysiloxanes) are inorganic-organic polymers with the chemical formula [R2SiO]n, where R = organic groups such as methyl, ethyl, and phenyl. ... Ebonite is one of the earliest forms of plastic. ... In the late-18th century, scientists developed sensitive instruments for detecting electrification, otherwise known as electrostatic charge imbalance. ... Electric charge is a fundamental conserved property of some subatomic particles, which determines their electromagnetic interaction. ... The polarity of an object is, in general, its physical alignment of atoms. ...

Thus, it is not very predictable, and only broad generalizations can be made. Amber, for example, can acquire an electric charge by contact and separation (respectively friction) with a material like wool. This property, first recorded by Thales of Miletus, suggested the word "electricity", from the Greek word for amber, ēlektron. Other examples of materials that can acquire a significant charge when rubbed together include glass rubbed with silk, and hard rubber rubbed with fur. This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... For other uses, see Friction (disambiguation). ... Long and short hair wool at the South Central Family Farm Research Center in Boonesville, Arizona Wool is the fiber derived from the fur of animals and people of the Caprinae family, principally sheep, but the hair of certain species of other mammals such as goats and rabbits and oxes... Thales of Miletos (, ca. ... Lightning strikes during a night-time thunderstorm. ... For other uses of this word, see Silk (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Fur (disambiguation). ...

Series

Materials are often listed in order of the polarity of charge separation when they are touched with another object. A material towards the bottom of the series, when touched to a material near the top of the series, will attain a more negative charge, and vice versa. The further away two materials are from each other on the series, the greater the charge transferred. Materials near to each other on the series may not exchange any charge, or may exchange the opposite of what is implied by the list. This depends more on the presence of rubbing, the presence of contaminants or oxides, or upon properties other than the type of material. Lists vary somewhat as to the exact order of some materials, since the charge also varies for nearby materials. An oxide is a chemical compound containing an oxygen atom and other elements. ...

Effect

Although the word comes from the Greek for "rubbing", tribos, the two materials only need to come into contact and then separate for electrons to be exchanged. After coming into contact, a chemical bond is formed between some parts of the two surfaces, called adhesion, and charges move from one material to the other to equalize their electrochemical potential. This is what creates the net charge imbalance between the objects. When separated, some of the bonded atoms have a tendency to keep extra electrons, and some a tendency to give them away, though the imbalance will be partially destroyed by tunneling or electrical breakdown (usually corona discharge). In addition, some materials may exchange ions of differing mobility, or exchange charged fragments of larger molecules. Dew drops adhering to a spider web Adhesion is the molecular attraction exerted between bodies in contact. ... Electrochemical potential is a thermodynamic measure that reflects energy from entropy and electrostatics and is typically invoked in molecular processes that involve diffusion. ... Quantum tunneling is the quantum-mechanical effect of transitioning through a classically-forbidden energy state. ... The term electrical breakdown has several similar but distinctly different meanings. ... In electricity, a corona discharge is an electrical discharge brought on by the ionization of a fluid surrounding a conductor, which occurs when the potential gradient exceeds a certain value, in situations where sparking (also known as arcing) is not favoured. ...

The triboelectric effect is only related to friction because they both involve adhesion. However, the effect is greatly enhanced by rubbing the materials together, as they touch and separate many times. For surfaces with differing geometry, rubbing may also lead to heating of protrusions, causing pyroelectric charge separation which may add to the existing contact electrification, or which may oppose the existing polarity. Surface nano-effects are not well understood, and the atomic force microscope has made sudden progress possible in this field of physics. For other uses, see Friction (disambiguation). ... Dew drops adhering to a spider web Adhesion is the molecular attraction exerted between bodies in contact. ... Pyroelectricity is the ability of certain materials to generate an electrical potential when they are heated or cooled. ... In the late-18th century, scientists developed sensitive instruments for detecting electrification, otherwise known as electrostatic charge imbalance. ... Topographic scan of a glass surface The atomic force microscope (AFM) is a very high-resolution type of scanning probe microscope, with demonstrated resolution of fractions of a nanometer, more than 1000 times better than the optical diffraction limit. ...

Because the surface of the material is now electrically charged, either negatively or positively, any contact with an uncharged conductive object or with an object having substantially different charge may cause an electrical discharge of the built-up static electricity; a spark. A person simply walking across a carpet may build up a charge of many volts, enough to cause a spark one centimeter long or more. This type of discharge is usually harmless because the energy (voltage × charge) of the spark is very small. An electrostatic discharge (ESD) is a sudden flow of electric current through a material that is normally an insulator. ... Static electricity is a class of phenomena involving the net charge present on an object; typically referring to charged object with voltages of sufficient magnitude to produce visible attraction, repulsion, and sparks. ... Look up Spark in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... International safety symbol Caution, risk of electric shock (ISO 3864), colloquially known as high voltage symbol. ... Electric charge is a fundamental conserved property of some subatomic particles, which determines their electromagnetic interaction. ...

Utilization

The effect is of considerable industrial importance both in terms of safety and also potential damage to manufactured goods. The spark produced is fully able to ignite flammable vapours, for example, petrol or ether fumes. Means have to be found to discharge carts which may carry such liquids in hospitals. Even where only a small charge is produced, this can result in dust particles being attracted to the rubbed surface. In the case of textile manufacture this can lead to a permanent grimy mark where the cloth has been charged. Some electronic devices, most notably MOSFETs, can be accidentally destroyed by high-voltage static discharge. Such components are usually stored in a conductive foam for protection. Grounding self by touching the workbench, others, or using a special bracelet or anklet is standard practice while handling unconnected integrated circuits. Gasoline, as it is known in North America, or petrol, in many Commonwealth countries (sometimes also called motor spirit) is a petroleum-derived liquid mixture consisting primarily of hydrocarbons, used as fuel in internal combustion engines. ... This article is about the chemical compound. ... For the record label, see Hospital Records. ... For other uses, see Textile (disambiguation). ... Electronics is the study and use of electrical devices that operate by controlling the flow of electrons or other electrically charged particles in devices such as thermionic valves and semiconductors. ... The metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET, MOS-FET, or MOS FET) is by far the most common field-effect transistor in both digital and analog circuits. ... Sea foam on the beach Foam on a cappuccino Fire-retardant, foamed plastic being used as a temporary dam for firestop mortar in a cable penetration in a pulp and paper mill on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. ... An Anti-static wrist strap or ESD wrist strap is a device used to prevent electrostatic discharge (ESD) by safely grounding a person working on electronic equipment. ... Integrated circuit of Atmel Diopsis 740 System on Chip showing memory blocks, logic and input/output pads around the periphery Microchips with a transparent window, showing the integrated circuit inside. ...

See also

• Antistatic agent
• Capacitor
• Contact electrification
• Dipole moment
• Dust explosion
• Electric charge
• Electric dipole
• Electrical generator
• Electrical phenomena
• Electronegativity
• Electrophorus
• Lightning
• Static electricity

An antistatic agent is a compound used for treatment of materials or their surfaces in order to reduce or eliminate buildup of static electricity generally caused by the triboelectric effect. ... See Capacitor (component) for a discussion of specific types. ... In the late-18th century, scientists developed sensitive instruments for detecting electrification, otherwise known as electrostatic charge imbalance. ... This article is about the electromagnetic phenomenon. ... A dust explosion refers to the explosive combustion of a dust suspended in air in an enclosed location. ... Electric charge is a fundamental conserved property of some subatomic particles, which determines their electromagnetic interaction. ... The Earths magnetic field, which is approximately a dipole A dipole (Greek: dyo = two and polos = pivot) is a pair of electric charges or magnetic poles of equal magnitude but opposite polarity (opposite electronic charges), separated by some (usually small) distance. ... “Dynamo” redirects here. ... Electrical phenomena are commonplace and unusual events that can be observed which illuminate the principles of the physics of electricity and are explained by them. ... Electronegativity is a measure of the ability of an atom or molecule to attract electrons in the context of a chemical bond. ... For the genus of fish family Electrophoridae, see electric eel An electrophorus is a single-plate capacitor used to produce imbalances of electric charge via the proces of electrostatic induction. ... For information on lightning precautions, see Lightning safety. ... Static electricity is a class of phenomena involving the net charge present on an object; typically referring to charged object with voltages of sufficient magnitude to produce visible attraction, repulsion, and sparks. ...

References

• Allen, Ryne, C, Triboelectric Generation: Getting Charged [1][2]
• Besançon, Robert M. (1985). The Encyclopedia of Physics, Third Edition. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company. ISBN 0-442-25778-3. 
• Harvard University Background of the Triboelectris Effect

[3]

External articles

Patents

• U.S. Patent 3,086,131  — Earle W. Ballentine — "Triboeletric Generator"
• U.S. Patent 4,990,813  — Gabriel L. Paramo — "Rolling triboelectric generator"

External links

General

• "Millennium Product — the Tribopen" Wolfson Electrostatics.
• "Charged Rod Demonstration" University of Minnesota, Crookston