Triboelectrification of wood with PTFE

Triboelectrification for a rolling contact between hardwood and softwood spheres and a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) plane is studied. For a variety of experimental parameters, the saturation charge developed on the spheres was measured. The results are compared with those reported previously where PTFE spheres were rolled on wood planes. The observations suggest that different principles are involved in the two experimental situations; however, in both cases the saturation charge developed depends on the apparent area of contact.

► Experimental investigation of triboelectrification of hard wood and soft wood spheres with a PTFE substrate.
► Saturation charge levels compared.
► Sizes of wood spheres were varied and metal spheres used to establish different apparent areas of contact.
► It is suggested that the observed results are due to differences in apparent areas of contact.