A study on the triboelectric charging of display glass during the roller transfer process–modeling and characterization

Glass substrates for displays are insulating materials capable of generating and maintaining high levels of triboelectric charges posing a risk of electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage to electronic display components. In this work, an apparatus for triboelectric charging characterization of display glass during the roller transfer process was designed and fabricated. In order to establish the reliability of the characterization, the triboelectric charge and the electrostatic potential distribution measurement system was automated. The preconditioning process of the glass and the rollers was also addressed. In order to analyze the measurements’ results, a multiphysics model that considered both electrical and mechanical properties was proposed. The test parameters that were expected to affect the triboelectric charging characteristics are defined and discussed, as well as some of the characterization results such as the effects of acceleration/deceleration and maximum velocity, relative humidity and moisture on the glass and the rollers, and the conductivity of the rollers. The peak-to-peak deviation of the de-embedded triboelectric charges, due to a steady-state velocity period with different combinations of acceleration/deceleration and maximum velocities, was 14.2%. The triboelectric charges increased as the relative humidity increased from 30% to 50% with the same temperature. They also increased when the insulating rollers were replaced with dissipative rollers.