Characterization of Particles Triboelectrically Charged by a Two-Stage System Using Vibration and External Electric Field

Abstract

A new method for characterizing particles triboelectrically charged through repeated contact with a wall has been studied both theoretically and experimentally. A two-stage system consisting of inclined vibrating plates with electrodes was used in this experiment. The first stage possessed functions to control the initial charge and flow rate of the particles. Particle tribocharging was characterized in the second stage. Three types of particles with diameters of less than 100μm were examined, and each particle charge profile as a function of distance travelled on the second vibrating plate was obtained under various experimental conditions. It was found that the pattern of the charge profiles agreed with the theoretical one, which is determined by two parameters related to equilibrium and relaxation. It was also found that particle tribocharging is well-characterized by the two parameters obtained by external electric fields.