We have all learnt about electrostatic charging in our elementary school years. Triboelectrification is new word for electrostatics. The term surely is new as my MS Word says that it does not know the term and a red worm appeared beneath it!

Matter is composed of atoms and the atom as a whole does not have any charge in it. Positively charged particles in the nucleus of an atom carry the positive charge that is exactly equal to the negatively charged particles revolving round it. Both the charges annul each other and the atom is rendered neutral. For the same reason material do not carry any charge. However a charged comb that produces the sound of small sparks on an early winter morning or the nylon clothes that get stuck to the body are all too common. Triboelectrification is at work. When two materials are rubbed together sometimes the electrons jump from one material to another. Remember atom is neutral because of equal negative and positive charge. Now, the material that loses electrons gets positively charged because the positively charged particles are excess in number and the material that gains electrons becomes negatively charged by gaining excess electron. Opposites attract and the result is triboelectrification.

Triboelectrification has some great uses in modern technology. For example the liquid paint is turned into very fine particles and a uniform coat is obtained by the use of the phenomena. The principal was used in the design of electric door bell and recently technique is used for separating materials.

Triboelectrification