Confinement of Conductive Powder Cloud by Using an Electrode Dented to a Thin Lens Shape

Abstract

The control of powder motion is important in applications such as electronic printing. The conductive powder (toner for electronic printing, diameter about 8-13 μm, resistivity 10⁶ Ωcm) is sprayed freely on the electrode. When more than a certain value of electric field is applied between the electrodes, the powder starts to move up and down between the electrodes by electrostatic force (induced charge x electric field). By using an electrode which is dented to a thin lens shape, it is found that the conductive powder is confined between the electrodes in the dented area.