static electricity
A condition of electrical charge associated with
friction, which is a phenomenon occurring in paper
and other non-conductors. In the paper mill it may
be due to circumstances involving its manufacture,
such as evaporation, friction against the
cylinders and felts during shrinkage which takes
place during drying, or when it is being glazed,
calendered, etc. It also occurs when the paper is
on the printing press, folding machine, or other
converting equipment. The electricity causes the
sheets of paper to adhere to each other or to
machine parts, and may cause operating slowdowns.
The drier the paper the more easily it retains
static electricity, so that increasing the amount
of water vapor in the air and storing the paper
under carefully controlled conditions in an
atmosphere of 65 to 70o relative humidity may
reduce the problem.
Static electricity in the papermaking or
processing machine may be reduced by passing the
paper through electrical fields or by having
grounded netting or trailing wires by the paper
web.
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