Triboelectrification

Triboelectrification is the process by which certain materials become electrically charged after they come into contact with a different material and then separate. This phenomenon is also commonly known as the triboelectric effect. When two dissimilar materials rub against each other, electrons can be transferred from one material to the other. The material that gains electrons becomes negatively charged, while the material that loses electrons becomes positively charged. The amount of charge transferred depends on the specific materials involved, their surface properties, and the nature of the contact and separation.

This effect is a common occurrence in everyday life. For instance, shuffling your feet across a carpet can cause a buildup of static electricity on your body, leading to a shock when you touch a metal object. Similarly, separating adhesive tape can also generate triboelectric charges. The triboelectric series is a list that ranks materials according to their tendency to gain or lose electrons during triboelectrification. Materials higher on the list tend to lose electrons and become positively charged when in contact with materials lower on the list, which tend to gain electrons and become negatively charged.

Understanding triboelectrification is important in various fields. In some applications, it is a nuisance that needs to be mitigated, such as in the handling of sensitive electronic components where static discharge can cause damage. In other areas, it is harnessed for useful purposes, such as in electrostatic precipitators used to remove dust and pollutants from industrial emissions, or in some types of ink-jet printing. The study of triboelectrification is a branch of electrostatics that explores the generation and behavior of static electric charges.