Different materials have different triboelectric (static electric) qualities.
Tribo = rubbing
Rubbing a material that gives up electrons against one that takes up electrons will cause the latter to become negatively charged and potentially able to discharge static electricity.
Rubbing a material that has a higher rank for taking up electrons against one with a lower rank in the series will cause it to develop a negative charge while the lower ranked one will become more positively charged.
Materials that develop little or no charge:
(1) cotton
(2) steel
|
Materials Positively Charged (Gives Up Electrons) |
Rank |
|
paper |
1 |
|
aluminum |
2 |
|
silk |
3 |
|
cat's fur |
4 |
|
lead |
5 |
|
wool |
6 |
|
nylon |
7 |
|
human hair |
8 |
|
mica |
9 |
|
quartz |
10 |
|
glass |
11 |
|
rabbit's fur |
12 |
|
leather |
13 |
|
dry human skin |
14 |
|
air |
15 |
|
Materials Negatively Charged (Takes Up Electrons) |
Rank |
|
wood |
1 |
|
Lucite |
2 |
|
sealing wax |
3 |
|
acrylic |
4 |
|
polystyrene |
5 |
|
rubber balloon |
6 |
|
resins |
7 |
|
hard rubber |
8 |
|
nickel or copper |
9 |
|
sulfur |
10 |
|
brass or silver |
11 |
|
gold or platinum |
12 |
|
acetate or rayon |
13 |
|
synthetic rubber |
14 |
|
polyester |
15 |
|
styrene (Styrofoam) |
16 |
|
orlon |
17 |
|
plastic wrap |
18 |
|
polyurethane |
19 |
|
polyethylene (Scotch tape) |
20 |
|
polypropylene |
21 |
|
vinyl, PVC |
22 |
|
silicon |
24 |
|
Teflon |
25 |
|
silicone rubber |
26 |
|
ebonite |
27 |
