We captured the feature of electrostatic charging as a phenomenon owing to the mechanical scission of the polymer main chain on the friction surface. Mechanical fracture of the polymer carried out under vacuum at 77 K in the dark produced mechano anions and mechano radicals that were induced by heterogeneous and homogeneous scission of the chemical bonds comprising the polymer main chain. The ionic yield depended on the ionic nature of the chemical bond, which was termed the absolute DMulliken atomic charge. The electron affinity of the mechano radical was deduced from its lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy level. We proposed that electrostatic charging was induced by electron transfer from the mechano anion to the mechano radical with low LUMO energy level. Both sign of charge and ionic yield were deduced from the chemical structure.

Electrostatic charging of polymers: Generation mechanism

244th National Meeting (2012)

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