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Spreading of triboelectrically charged granular matter
Deepak Kumar1, A Sane1, Smita Gohil1
1Department of Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Homi Bhabha Road, Mumbai 400-005, India.
Charged glass particles spread on plastic surfaces, forming wavy patterns and particle jets due to frictional drag. This reveals complex dynamics in triboelectric processes.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Materials Science
- Surface Science
Background:
- Triboelectric charging is crucial for particle manipulation.
- Understanding particle dynamics on charged surfaces is key for industrial applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the spreading dynamics of triboelectrically charged glass particles on a plastic surface.
- To analyze the instabilities and pattern formation during particle spreading under agitation.
Main Methods:
- Observation of monolayer spreading of charged glass particles on a plastic cylinder.
- Application of constant mechanical agitation.
- Analysis of emergent instabilities and pattern formation.
Main Results:
- Particles spread as a monolayer, forming wavy-stripe density modulations.
- Instabilities lead to the ejection of particle jets.
- Jets coalesce into a homogeneous, layered spreading front.
- Pattern formation is linked to time-evolving frictional drag.
Conclusions:
- The study reveals complex, multiscale dynamical instabilities in triboelectric processes.
- Frictional drag plays a significant role in macroscopic pattern formation.
- Further research is needed to understand the microscopic origins of these observed phenomena.
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