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Solid States Devices => Captret effect => Topic started by: Grumage on January 01, 2018, 07:49:05 PM

Title: Making an Electret, or several actually.
Post by: Grumage on January 01, 2018, 07:49:05 PM
Hello All and a happy new year.

I started a thread here at OUR a few days ago.

http://www.overunityresearch.com/index.php?topic=3577.msg66260#msg66260

I hope you'll forgive me for a copy/paste introduction?

Cheers Graham.
Title: Re: Making an Electret, or several actually.
Post by: Grumage on January 01, 2018, 07:52:57 PM
Hello Everyone.

I have always been fascinated by Electrostatic phenomena, my father demonstrating to me as a child the famous balloon on the ceiling trick, yes it goes way back.

As many will remember I built a modern day Franklin Electrostatic motor earlier this year with the intention of testing one of our members, Smudge theories. That’s still in the pipeline, BTW.

These devices have really grabbed my attention, particularly when Verpies pointed out that the forces generated can exceed both gravity and magnetism.

Over the Christmas holidays I have been playing around with some simple experiments moving small masses by Electrostatic means, but my goal is to try and build an attraction motor that uses segmented Electrets so that no external HV supply will be required.

I have opened this thread to ask if any members here have made successful wax Electrets and to document my own attempts as well.

I have " bumped " here in the hope that some/any of the contributors here at OU.Com might be able to help me with this rather interesting area of Electrostatics.

Cheers Graham.

Here's some You Tube links to my recent Electrostatic experiments.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koJ0qHNWlBM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIwHqV1NpHs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4XlD4YP5Kc 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u53Vwodew_Y
Title: Re: Making an Electret, or several actually.
Post by: sm0ky2 on January 02, 2018, 02:51:58 PM
Hi Graham,


The effects you are describing are what my Swiss contacts claim as
the driving force of the Testatika machines.


This is best demonstrated using two Whimshurst machines
One physically rotated, the other connected in parallel
through the output terminals.
The second machine rotates by electric force.


One of our members named LidMotor has a nice collection of
experiments on his YouTube channel. A quick search there will
lead you to his channel.


Also TK shows us a few tricks he has learned.


Hope this helps.

Title: Re: Making an Electret, or several actually.
Post by: Void on January 02, 2018, 07:02:31 PM
Hi Grum. I have never made an electret, but I find this interesting about electrets:

"When the oil reaches room temperature, turn off the power supply and remove the electret. Immediately fold the aluminum foil forward over the surface in contact with the top plate, short-circuiting the electret. The foil acts as a 'keeper' and is analogous to the soft-iron bar placed across the open jaws of a horseshoe magnet to preserve the magnetic flux. Electrets properly short-circuited have kept for longer than five years without noticeable loss of charge.

Now comes the puzzler that stumps the experts. If the electret's polarity is measured directly after its manufacture, its charge will be just what theory predicts it should be. The negative surface of the electret will be that which made contact with the positively charged polarizing electrode, and vice versa. This agrees with the north-south polarity of a bar of steel magnetized by contact with a permanent magnet. In contrast with the behavior of a magnet, however, the charge on the electret begins to diminish immediately, and in about a week it will have fallen to zero. The charge then begins to build up in opposite polarity to a final value that may be several times as large as the original charge. This may take as long as three months. The negative surface of the stabilized electret will be the face that made contact with the negatively charged polarizing electrode. In other words, the charge will correspond in sign to the polarity of the high-voltage field. Just why this reversal takes place has never been satisfactorily explained."
Cited source: How to Make an Electret - the Device That Permanently Maintains an Electric Charge - by C. L. Strong - Scientific American, November, 1960
https://sites.google.com/site/polymericmatrixmaterial/how-to-make-an-electret


The statement that you should 'short circuit' with aluminum foil after making the electret and leave it for several months
short circuited like that, and the electret will change polarity during this period, and this reversed polarity can be even
stronger than the original charge. That is a pretty odd effect. If the charge separation is sealed into the cooled wax,
I would have thought that the electrostatic charge would remain fixed like that for a long time, but apparently the charge
somehow reverses over a period of a few months when 'shorted' with aluminum foil. Very odd effect indeed. :)

All the best...
Title: Re: Making an Electret, or several actually.
Post by: Grumage on January 02, 2018, 09:03:24 PM
Hi Guys.

Many thanks for the information.

Tinsel Koala linked to a nice little pdf on my thread over at OUR.

http://www.overunityresearch.com/index.php?topic=3577.msg66266#msg66266

I have downloaded it myself but cannot seem to place it here from my PC.

In that article it also mentions this polarity reversal over time but they are suggesting hours rather than weeks.

Here's my " dream " copied from my post over at OUR.

“ Rotor?? “

I have an idea of a simple attraction motor. Your thoughts on how it might work, if at all, would be appreciated.

A disc of thin Aluminium sheet is covered by a slightly larger diameter of Polycarbonate. The Polycarbonate disc has got slots milled through its thickness. These slots extend from the centre point radially, just the same as the segments of a Wimshurst machine. I cook the wax mixture and pour into the slots cover with foil then pole the assembly with a positive potential applied to the base disc. I make a second one done the same way.

I then propose to mate the two discs back to back and provide an axle to be fitted into a pair of bearings mounted in a vertical fashion. The final part is a “ U “ section metal “ attractor “ ?? That goes to a good earth and is placed so that the rotor can run between the faces. Finished!

The above was written a few days ago, I have now changed my thoughts towards using circular wax Electrets inserted into a pre machined Polycarbonate rotor.

As a further update, the poling mould is virtually complete its dimensions are 50mm diameter by 10mm wide cavity. Poling voltage will be approximately 40,000 Volts DC provided by two 20KV air ionisers in series.

Cheers Graham.
Title: Re: Making an Electret, or several actually.
Post by: Grumage on January 02, 2018, 09:47:09 PM
 ;)
Title: Re: Making an Electret, or several actually.
Post by: Void on January 02, 2018, 10:41:02 PM
In that article it also mentions this polarity reversal over time but they are suggesting hours rather than weeks.

Hi Grum. I don't know, but maybe the charge reversal time varies depending on the exact composition and portions
used in the electret material.

All the best...

Title: Re: Making an Electret, or several actually.
Post by: sm0ky2 on January 03, 2018, 12:38:44 PM
+ - + -


+        -+        -




- / / +




The above is a visual representation of thermodielectric induction
The center two charges are on either side of the dielectric
The outer charges are on the conductors


While the dielectric isulative, it’s surface charges conduct onto the conductor
in the same way a negative charged balloon transfers its charge onto the
objects it attracts.


There are two effects
First induction
Then conduction
(then induction again)


@void yes, Faraday said it does vary with materials
Title: Re: Making an Electret, or several actually.
Post by: Grumage on January 03, 2018, 01:29:31 PM
Hi Guys.

Ok, my poling mould is nearing completion and the raw materials have arrived from their various locations around the UK.

I have 500 grams of  Carnauba flakes, 500 grams of Rosin crystals and 200 grams of Beeswax. The recipe states a 45%, 45%, and 10% Beeswax by weight.

Am I correct that 100 grams of Beeswax added to the Kilogram of the other ingredients is right?

Cheers Graham.
Title: Re: Making an Electret, or several actually.
Post by: sm0ky2 on January 03, 2018, 02:38:11 PM
Hi Guys.

Ok, my poling mould is nearing completion and the raw materials have arrived from their various locations around the UK.

I have 500 grams of  Carnauba flakes, 500 grams of Rosin crystals and 200 grams of Beeswax. The recipe states a 45%, 45%, and 10% Beeswax by weight.

Am I correct that 100 grams of Beeswax added to the Kilogram of the other ingredients is right?

Cheers Graham.


110


Or you can downsize it like Webby suggests.


It is the total that you want to take the % of
Title: Re: Making an Electret, or several actually.
Post by: conradelektro on January 03, 2018, 02:54:29 PM
It might be interesting to mix some 19th century electrets, but nowadays one can use plastic materials. I often use Plexiglass (Polymethylmethacrylat, PMMA) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poly(methyl_methacrylate (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poly(methyl_methacrylate))

The best is to rub the surface (e.g. only one surface of a disk) with real fur. I bought an old fur hat, be careful, it has to be real fur. Cat fur or fox fur works best. You want fur with very fine hair. The fur has to be dry.

The best surface is a disk. If you use other shapes, you could get several areas with opposite charge. Good shapes are also spheres (hard to get from Plexiglass) or tubes (one can use PVC tubes).

Many plastic materials work, but one has to find out which ones are best. Also many plastic foils work, but are hard to handle. I prefer thin plastic sheets which are stiff and can be cut with scissors.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=notE4ugcgvk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=notE4ugcgvk)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TmoQFEk8d0 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TmoQFEk8d0)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzoUiZnR5QA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzoUiZnR5QA)

Greetings, Conrad
Title: Re: Making an Electret, or several actually.
Post by: Grumage on January 03, 2018, 04:09:11 PM
Thanks Guys.

I’m off to the workshop to mill the “ sprue “ hoping that 5mm depth will be sufficient “ head “ to allow for material shrinkage into the mould cavity.

Many thanks Conrad for the additional information about Electrets from plastics.

Cheers Graham.

Title: Re: Making an Electret, or several actually.
Post by: Void on January 03, 2018, 05:35:34 PM
I have 500 grams of  Carnauba flakes, 500 grams of Rosin crystals and 200 grams of Beeswax. The recipe states a 45%, 45%, and 10% Beeswax by weight.
Am I correct that 100 grams of Beeswax added to the Kilogram of the other ingredients is right?

Hi Grum. If you use 500g of carnauba and 500g of rosin and 100g of beeswax, you would calculate
the percentages like this:

First calculate the total weight:
500g + 500g + 100g = 1100g.

Then, to calculate the percentages by weight of the carauba and rosin:
(500 / 1100) x 100 = 45.45% for each

The percentage by weight of the beeswax is:
(100 /1100) x 100 = 9.09%

So, that is close to 45%/45%/10%.

P.S. It probably wouldn't matter much, but 500g + 500g + 111g would be even closer to 45%/45%/10%. :)


All the best...
Title: Re: Making an Electret, or several actually.
Post by: Grumage on January 04, 2018, 12:41:06 PM
Update.

Well, I didn’t manage to finish the mould because number 3 son who’s had a little time off work recently finished a project he’d started some nine years ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kNKswjpc20

This was one of many different  casting kits that I used to market a decade back.

I did however carefully measure the ingredients and cook up a batch of wax. The smell wasn’t too bad, almost organic.

I used clean Stainless Steel utensils got all the air out and allowed the mixture to cool and set. Upon touching the top surface a loud crack was heard, I assume the wax had adhered to the edges of the bowl I had used and then suddenly released. It promptly shattered into many smaller pieces.

From this exercise I noticed that there was little to no “ slump “ in the material so a deep “ sprue “ won’t be needed on the mould. A good polished surface however, is a must!

More to come, cheers Graham.
Title: Re: Making an Electret, or several actually.
Post by: Grumage on January 04, 2018, 08:04:03 PM
Hello Everyone.

How ( NOT ) to make an Electret. Take 1.

https://youtu.be/QEYXeuAxIqQ

                        :)

Cheers Graham.
Title: Re: Making an Electret, or several actually.
Post by: Grumage on January 04, 2018, 10:20:08 PM
It's looking like " Plan B " time!   ;)
Title: Re: Making an Electret, or several actually.
Post by: Grumage on January 05, 2018, 01:57:38 PM
Hello All.

Is there anyone who’s made wax Electrets here on the forum? I could really use some advice.

On checking my YouTube channel I noticed a dislike for the above video?? Failure, not an option? I’ve always viewed failure as part of life, something to learn from, betterment. Hey ho.

Plan B is probably going to work around separate insulative containers made for each wax button. I was thinking about using Aluminium foil between the poling electrode plate and wax. The wax will adhere to the foil and can be easily unwrapped from the metal plate.

I’m open to suggestions....

Cheers Graham.
Title: Re: Making an Electret, or several actually.
Post by: conradelektro on January 07, 2018, 08:44:20 PM
You could use a disk made from 5 mm Plexiglas https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poly(methyl_methacrylate (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poly(methyl_methacrylate)).


- On both sides of the Plexiglas disk you put a metal plate with wires to your HV-power supply.

- The HV-power supply stays outside the baking oven, but the Plexiglas disk with the metal plates is put inside the backing oven. (Because of the wires leading out from the backing oven the door of the backing oven might be open a few millimeters. But that does not matter.)

- Heat the backing oven to 150° C (300° F) and let the Plexiglas disk remain under HV tension for at least 2 hours. (The metal plates and the Plexiglas disk in between should be placed in the oven horizontally and insulated with e.g. a ceramic plate from the metal of the oven. Also check that the insulation of the wires supports 150° C.)

- Then remove the Plexiglas disk in between the metal plates from the oven and let cool under HV-tension (this is important to "freeze" the charges in position).


The melting point of Plexiglas is 160° C (320° F) and it should be kind of soft at 150° C, but should not melt. In the soft Plexiglas the charges can wander to opposite sides of the disk near the opposite poles.

That also works with other plastic materials, but you have to know the melting point. A lower melting point is more practical, therefore I suggest Plexiglas.

I have the impression that you overestimate the charge in an electret. The charge is rather small. Rubbing the surface of Plexiglas with real fur gives you a much higher charge. But this charge will only hold a few hours. In dry air it holds longer. Once you have put a charge on the surface of a Plexiglas disk by rubbing with real fur, do not rub it with anything, only make contact straight down and break contact straight up.

Also, the charge in an electret is first lost at its outer surface, and most easily by rubbing it with something. The charge of an electret near its surface is lost by mechanical action. The charge inside an electret is less useful than its charge near or at its surface (because its strength diminishes by the square of the distance).


All products that contain an electret have the problem that the charge is lost over time and always in a shorter time as advertised. This is the reason why electrets have never been widely used.


Greetings, Conrad
Title: Re: Making an Electret, or several actually.
Post by: Kator01 on January 08, 2018, 12:24:37 AM
Hello conradelektro

They are.....

most of the detailed info by producer 3M is gone which I saw 6 years ago, but here are some snippets:


https://www.arcmedical.com/documents/3M%20Filtration%20Technology.pdf (https://www.arcmedical.com/documents/3M%20Filtration%20Technology.pdf)


http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/719579O/advances-in-electrostatically-charged-hvac-filter-technology.pdf (http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/719579O/advances-in-electrostatically-charged-hvac-filter-technology.pdf)


http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02786826.2015.1086723?utm_source=TrendMD&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Aerosol_Science_and_Technology_TrendMD_0& (http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02786826.2015.1086723?utm_source=TrendMD&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Aerosol_Science_and_Technology_TrendMD_0&)


Look here in section "Features". It is just one application


https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-products/~/3M-Particulate-Respirator-8511-N95-80-EA-Case/?N=5002385+3294780243&rt=rud (https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-products/~/3M-Particulate-Respirator-8511-N95-80-EA-Case/?N=5002385+3294780243&rt=rud)


If I find it in my archive I will add it here




Mike
Title: Re: Making an Electret, or several actually.
Post by: TinselKoala on January 08, 2018, 02:27:53 AM
Actually electrets are practically ubiquitous and when made properly do not lose their charge. All of us probably have several electrets in use in our own homes and laboratories right now.



Title: Re: Making an Electret, or several actually.
Post by: conradelektro on January 08, 2018, 01:13:36 PM
http://www.irdindia.in/journal_apl/pdf/vol2_iss3/4.pdf (http://www.irdindia.in/journal_apl/pdf/vol2_iss3/4.pdf)   A Review of Applications of Polymer Electrets

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electret#Applications (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electret#Applications) Electret materials have found commercial and technical interest. For example, they are used in electret microphones (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electret_microphone) and in copy machines (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copy_machine). They are also used in some types of air filters (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_filter), for electrostatic collection of dust particles, in electret ion chambers for measuring ionizing radiation (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ionizing_radiation) or radon (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radon) and in Vibration Energy Harvesting (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_Harvesting)

One might call this ubiquitous as a matter of opinion.

Greetings, Conrad
Title: Re: Making an Electret, or several actually.
Post by: guilforce on April 30, 2022, 12:49:41 AM
I make electrets with caramel, aluminum or anodized iron and carbon blackened copper, they give me between 0.5 and 0.7 volts, but they do not need to be powered during cooling