Factors That Affect Tribocharging of Polyethylene (PE) Granules After Exposure to a Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD)

Triboelectric charging is used in many applications including electricity nanogeneration, safety or electrostatic separation of insulating materials. Insulating granules charge must be the highest in electrostatic separators so that the electric field forces allow their separation. Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD), used for ozone production, depollution or surface treatment, is able to change the triboelectric properties of insulating materials. The aim of this study is to improve the triboelectric charging of polyethylene particles by exposing them to an atmospheric DBD. Signal shape, exposure duration, voltage amplitude, and frequency, which rule the DBD, are studied. After exposing the particles to DBD, they are charged in a vibratory device during 5 min. Then, particles are put in a Faraday pail connected to an electrostatic voltmeter to measure the acquired charge. Results show that the square waveform has the best effect and that the duration of the DBD treatment should not exceed 10 s, for the amplitude of the applied voltage of 21 kV.