Implementation and interpretation of surface potential decay measurements on corona-charged non-woven fabrics

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to discuss the peculiarities of the surface potential decay (SPD) curves obtained for certain non-woven media. The experiments were performed on samples of non-woven poly-propylene (PP) sheets, which are typically employed in the construction of air filters for heat, ventilation and air conditioning. The samples were in contact with a grounded plane, in order to: (1) ensure better charging and measurement reproducibility; (2) simulate the worst situation of practical interest. They were charged using either a high-voltage wire-type dual electrode or a triode-type electrode arrangement. The aspect of the SPD curves depends on the electrode configuration. When the electric field is strong enough, it can activate charge injection at the insulator-metal interface and extrinsic conduction.