Surface Material Dependence in Powder Triboelectric Charging

TL;DR

This paper explores how different surface materials influence powder triboelectric charging, revealing key factors that affect safety and efficiency in industrial powder handling processes.

Contribution

It provides new insights into how material properties and surface types impact triboelectric charging in powders, aiding safer industrial practices.

Findings

Stainless steel surfaces generate minimal charge.

Polyethene liners significantly increase charging.

Material and surface choice affect safety in powder handling.

Abstract

Triboelectric charging of granular materials against container walls is a critical yet poorly understood phenomenon affecting many industrial powder handling processes. Charge accumulation can cause material flow disruptions, adhesion issues, and pose serious safety risks, such as providing ignition sources for dust cloud explosions. This study investigates particle-wall charging behaviour for materials with varying size, shape, and electrical resistivity. Aluminium surfaces are used as a reference case, followed by analysis of labradorite, an analogue for volcanic ash, to examine charging interactions with various wall materials. Finally, the triboelectric response of industrially relevant materials used in flexible intermediate bulk containers, including both lined and unlined variants, is assessed. Results show that stainless steel surfaces generate the least charge, while the presence of insulating polyethene liners increases charging significantly. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of triboelectric charging mechanisms in powder transfer operations and inform safer industrial practice.