Effects of Static Electricity on Analytical Weighing
While static electricity is a common and naturally occurring phenomenon, it can have a variety of detrimental effects in research laboratories, including during the process of analytical weighing. Static electricity can have a negative effect on either the weighing process itself or the results, thus requiring time-consuming material selection or handling procedures to counter these issues.
Among the various options for eliminating static electricity during analytical weighing, there are simple, low-cost measures available. However, due to current metrological and practical limitations, these measures are difficult, time-consuming and not universally applicable. Conversely, with the help of a Cubis® II balance, methods are available that are both powerful and space-saving.
Learn more about these methods by downloading this article.
Commonly Asked Questions:
- How does static electricity interfere with the weighing process?
- When a sample or a weighing container gains an electrostatic charge, it can become unstable. This means unstable readings and potential measurement drift, causing inaccurate results.
- How can static electricity be controlled?
- There are various methods used to control static in work environments. Often work areas are equipped with grounding materials to prevent static charges from taking hold. Even anti-static wrist straps can be helpful in a potentially conductive workspace. Ionization is also used, via air ionization, electric ionization, devices, etc.