Marissa Mattadeen Shalana Mohammed Chantel Acevero

Electrostatics or Static Electricity refers to the build up electric charge on the surface of objects.

Dust Extraction Photocopiers Electrostatic Spray Painting Agricultural Spraying

Why is it important?

It is essential in the chemical industry to prevent the poisoning of catalysts which are expensive to replace and it helps to reduce the level of environmental pollution emitted from those industries.

By the use of an electrostatic precipitator, industries can remove dust particles from impure air using the force of an induced electrostatic charge. They are efficient filtration devices that minimally slow down the flow of gases through the device by passing the gas through an electrically charged screen. This process gives charge to the dust particles which then become attracted to two charged plates which they pass between. These plated are then removed and cleaned

Photocopiers use a dry electrophotographic technique invented by Chester Carlson in 1938.The technique uses a metal cylinder or drum which is coated with a material called selenium and is mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis . The surface of the drum is then uniformly given a positive, electrostatic charge. When the document is being scanned, it is illuminated by flash lamps so that the image is projected onto and synchronized with the moving drum surface. Where there is text or image on the document, the corresponding area of the drum will remain unlit. Where there is no image the drum will be illuminated and the charge will be dissipated. The charge that remains on the drum after this exposure is a 'latent' image and is a negative of the original document.

In electrostatic spray painting or powder coating, the atomized particles are made to be electrically charged. As a result, they repel each other and spread themselves evenly as they exit the spray nozzle. The object being painted is charged oppositely or grounded. The paint is then attracted to the object giving a more even coat than wet spray painting, and also increasing the percentage of paint that sticks to the object. The whole is then baked to properly attach the paint: the powder turns into a type of plastic. Car body panels and bike frames are two examples where electrostatic spray painting is often used.

Pesticide drift causes damage to non target organisms and is therefore detrimental to the environment. By reducing spray drift, it not only saves these organisms but it also improves large scale spraying by reducing the amount of wasted material. These sprayers simply adhere to the basic principle, like charges repel and opposite charges attract. As the chemical mix leaves the nozzle, it is exposed to negative charges. These charged droplets are then attracted to the positive charged leave surface. Since the chemical droplets have like charges, they repel one another and an even coating is achieved.

Dust Extraction and Photocopiers Heinemann Physics for CXC pg 238 and 239 Electrostatic Agricultural Spraying http://www.electrostaticspraying.com/applications/agricu lture.html Electrostatics http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrostatics Electrophotography http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrophotography Electrostatic spray painting http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spray_painting#Electrostatic _spray_painting Static Electricity http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Static_electricity