ELECTROSTATICS NEWSLETTER

Mar/Apr 1999 No. 143

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Comparisons and the finding of similarities between unrelated topics have always fascinated me. When we look at science, we find much of science has evolved from these analogs. For instance, Coulomb’s Law is analogous to the Law of Gravitation while Ohm’s Law has its analog in fluid flow through a pipe. Since the Law of Gravitation and flow through pipes were understood before Coulomb and Ohm began their studies, it might be said that science feeds upon science.

At the other extreme we might wonder if comparisons can be made to the seemingly different ways we live our lives. Last Saturday night as I watched the state high school championship hockey game between a small school (Roseau) and a much larger school (Hastings) a comparison of sorts also hit me. Was there an analogy between the way this game of hockey was being played and the way we play in science and engineering?

In industry, academia and government we have both the small and the large. Small companies and large corporations, small colleges and large universities, and small and large funded government efforts are all active

in applied and basic science and engineering. In the hockey game Roseau (a small Class A school with a dominant team) had partitioned to play in the big school (Class AA) league. That is why Roseau (small school) was playing Hastings (big school) for the championship. The analog fits in our technical lives too. If, and only if, our products and technical specialties are valuable, then start-up companies, colleges and small government programs get to compete with corporations, universities and large government programs. So we see we have our analog of small vs. large on which to build our comparison.

Hastings’ students are smaller but have great speed on the ice. Roseau students are big, and the team uses its size to deliver power. Where is the analogy here? Well, in industry the key is to get things to the marketplace quickly; so, speed is critical. In academia it is the power of the result that counts and not the speed at which it is delivered. As a result, industry tends to be more experimental while academia looks at the details to develop their power.

How did the hockey game turn out? Although neither team scored in the first period, Hastings kept the puck down at Roseau’s end for over 12 of the 15 minutes during the first period. Hastings showed speed, and it was quite clear that speed was dominating over power. It was easy to bet that Hastings would get that goal in the next period. This is quite analogous to industry’s approach of action now, show results quick, and keep everyone interested. Industry bets on what it can see, touch and feel. As the game wore on, Roseau was finally able to muster its power and score analogous to the breakthrough that comes from basic research. Roseau went on to win the game, but most were convinced that if Hastings had just scored the first goal the outcome would have been different. Likewise, in R&D the main money goes to those who can show early results and not to those who can argue a theory that will eventually win the game.

Just as both teams had basic skating skills, all of us hold the basics for science and engineering: namely, thoughts (theory) and actions (applied). However, how we approach problems depends on the school we are in and the strengths we have. We do best with speed in industry and power in academia; yet, we use some of both at all times. Next time your work has you a bit down, cheer up; life is analogous to a hockey game. Remember, at any one time any one team can beat any other team; so, enjoy the moment, get a couple of minutes rest and get back on the ice.

For the Friendly Society

Albert E. Seaver

27th Annual Conference

June 23-25, 1999

Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts

COMPLETE CONFERENCE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON THE ESA WEB SITE

www.electrostatics.org

Join us for the 27th Annual Conference of the Electrostatics Society of America to be held on the campus of Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts from June 23-25, 1999. Boston University, the largest private university in the United States, lies on the outskirts of the downtown Boston, offering a suburban-like setting near the pulse of Boston's intellectual, cultural, and social life. The B.U. campus is a short ride from Boston's Logan International Airport and is easily reached by car, rail, and bus. Our meeting headquarters will be in the newly renovated Photonics Building with accommodations in on-campus housing and local hotels.

Our usual mix of interesting and detailed technical presentations will be accompanied by demonstrations and informative talks about special topics in electrostatics.

Titles for Formal Papers and Oral Presentations April 15, 1999. Full manuscripts are requested by April 15 but will be accepted up to May 1.

Registration and detailed conference information can be found on the ESA web site: ww.electrostatics.org. Registration packets will be mailed to all ESA members in April. If you wish to receive the full registration mailing and are not an ESA member, send e-mail to mnh@bu.edu, fax to 617-469-5701, or contact the Conference Chair.

TOPICS OF INTEREST INCLUDE:

- Atmospheric Electricity - Electrostatic Printing

- Biological Applications - Electrostatic Propulsion

- Breakdown and Discharges - Electrostatics Demonstrations

- Charge Neutralization - Electrostatics Education

- Coating and Painting - ESD Prevention

- Computational and - ESD Detection

- Display Devices - Precipitators and Cleaners

- Electrets - Safety and Hazards

- Electrohydrodynamics - Sprays and Droplets

- Electrophotography - Triboelectrification

-Formal Paper: Authors may submit a full-length written paper to be published in the ESA proceedings. An oral presentation will be given at the conference to accompany the written submission. Instructions for preparing full manuscripts and abstracts can be found on the ESA Web site: www.electrostatics.org. Preparation instructions also will be sent to all authors who submit titles.

Title Deadline: April 15, 1999 (submit to Conference Chair). Preferred Paper Deadline: April 15, 1999, but papers will be accepted up to May 1. (submit to Publications Chair).

-Oral Presentation With Abstract: Authors may submit a one- to two-page abstract which will be published in the ESA proceedings. An oral presentation will be given at the conference.

Title Deadline: April 15, 1999. (submit to Conference Chair).

Abstract Deadline: May 1, 1999 (submit to Publications Chair).

-Informal Oral Presentation: Speakers may offer informal presentations that pose problems, describe recent developments, provide observations, or show preliminary results that are not ready for formal presentation. Informal presentations will be scheduled upon request of the Conference Chair.

The cost of the conference for members will be $160 US exclusive of housing ($180 for non-members which includes a one-year membership to the ESA) . This registration fee will cover all technical sessions, lunches, snacks, the ESA banquet, and one copy of the conference proceedings. A per-day rate of $60 (including proceedings) will be available for those unable to attend the entire conference.

On Campus Housing: Conference attendees may choose to stay in air-conditioned on-campus dormitory housing at a cost of $37 single, $30 pp-double per night. Suites of three rooms are arranged around a common bathroom and lounge, with up to two persons in each room. Suites will be arranged by gender and special accommodations can be reserved for entire families by special request to the Conference Chair. Participants must reserve on-campus by sending e-mail, surface mail, or fax to the Conference Chair or by mailing in the campus housing form to be distributed with the full registration packet in April.

Off Campus Housing:

A block of rooms has been reserved until June 16, 1999 at the Kenmore Howard Johnson, 575 Commonwealth Ave, Boston MA. Tel: 617-267-3100. Fax: 617-424-1045. Rates are $125.00 per night per room for single, double, or triple occupancy. Participants should book their own rooms at this facility. Information about other nearby hotels (all within walking distance from the B.U. campus) will be mailed with the full registration packet.

Written proceedings of the conference are available to those unable to attend. Please contact the Publications Chair.

Dr. Mark N. Horenstein

Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Boston University, 8 Saint Mary's St, Boston, MA 02215

Ph: 617-353-9052 Fax: 617-469-5701 email: mnh@bu.edu

Dr. Joseph M. Crowley

Electrostatic Applications

16525 Jackson Oaks Drive, Morgan Hill, CA 95037

Ph:408-779-7774 Fax:408-779-3638

e-mail: electro@electrostatic.com

The Electrostatics Society of America (ESA) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1970 to promote the advancement and understanding electrostatics. The ESA provides a central forum for technical discourse as well as a forum for informal presentations, entertaining demonstrations, and impromptu discussions in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

The ESA also encourages the teaching of electrostatics and maintains the Electrostatics Hall of Fame at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, PA, USA. The ESA has a rich and interesting history and has earned its reputation as "The Friendly Society".

Several of you noticed that Humphrey Wong had two different e-mail addresses listed in the recent mailing on ESA Awards. The one listed on the first page at the bottom of his letter is the correct one. The one listed on the second page (General Instructions.....) is not correct. It was his address a year ago when he originally wrote the Instructions. Cutting and pasting last year’s Instructions into the 1999 edition did save some preparation time, but, unfortunately, the change in Dr. Wong’s e-mail address escaped the attention of our staff of proofreaders They have all been duly chastised and solemnly promise to let it happen again..

You remember that old toy, don’t you? The soft squishy stuff that could be slowly pulled out into long lengths, but when pulled quickly, it just broke. You probably also remember that it could be rolled into a ball that bounced! Odd behavior indeed.

Recently I read about some bouncing experiments which included tennis balls, ball bearings, and silly putty. And there was an electrostatic surprise. When silly putty was freshly stretched out and rolled into a ball, it became charged to about 1 kV. The experimenter reported that "the ball was able to hold its charge for about 20 minutes despite repeated handling and dropping of the ball"!!

Have any of you heard of this or similar charging with other stretched materials? Is it really a complex form of contact charging? Do you think impurities play a large role?

Glenn Schmieg

The ESA meeting is coming ever nearer, and I'm pleased that a few of you have already made some Nominations for Awards this year! Thanks very much for doing so.

I wanted to offer a few comments and clarifications around the Nomination process. First, in order to give the Awards Committee plenty of time to evaluate your Nominations properly, the closing deadline for Nominations is FRIDAY May 28, 1999. Second, please feel free to attach whatever additional supporting material you would like to the Nomination Form. The few lines on the printed Form are only meant as a guide, not as a limit to your submitted information. I am looking forward to seeing even more submissions before the deadline! Take care, and thanks for your help.

Humphrey Wong

Chair, ESA Awards Committee

In the last ESA Newsletter (No. 142; Jan/Feb 1999) nominations for slates of candidates to serve on the Executive Council were sought from the ESA Membership. Only one slate of candidates was submitted this year. The one slate consists of the following ESA Members who have agreed to serve if elected.

President - Mark Horenstein - Boston University

Vice-President - Ed Law - University of Georgia

Council - Steve Cooper - Electrostatic Spraying Systems

Council - Al Seaver - 3M

Council - Humphrey Wong - Eastman Kodak

ESA tradition holds (see ESA Newsletters No. 131; Mar/Apr 1997 and No. 142; Jan/Feb 1999) that when only one slate of candidates exists no ballot will be mailed to the Membership. Instead of a ballot vote, a vote by a show of hands at the upcoming ESA Annual Meeting in June will establish the outcome of the election.