Tribo Powder Systems - International Powder Systems Version 2022 old

The word 'Tribo' stems from the Greek word 'Tribein' which means friction or generation of friction.  In the Tribo charging process, the powder particles rub off the inner Teflon surface at high speed which gives them their charge. The charging takes place in the ionisation channel (charging tube). The specific amount of  flowing Tribo air in the diffuser causes the axial acceleration of the powder particles in the charging tube. The geometry of the charging tube has been constructed so as to insure that all powder particles can be frictionally charged at a high speed in the ionisation channel for a sufficient length of time and with sufficient turbulence that essentially all the particles come into contact with the surface. Since every charging transmission leaves the opposite charging  behind on the surface, a very high opposite charging comes about on the surface on a very short time which will stop the process. Therefore it is necessary to insure that a current flow from the charged surface to earth is in place which bleeds off the opposite charging which occurs.

This process is called charge separation. The powder gets a positive charge,  the negative ions are bled off to earth. The current flow, depending on the type of powder, lies between 2 µA and 8µA. The electrically charged Tribo powder particles are dispersed onto the surface and achieve finer and smoother surfaces with little orange peel. One disadvantage is with metallic-effect powder where the effect doesn't come across as well. In such cases, it is advisable to get in contact with the powder supplier.