Brush discharge

A brush discharge is a type of corona discharge that takes place between two electrodes embedded in a nonconducting medium (e.g., air at atmospheric pressure) and is characterized by nonsparking, faintly luciferous furcations composed of ionized particles.

Brush discharges can occur from charged insulating plastics (for example polythene) to a conductor. The maximum energy associated with brush discharges is unlikely to exceed 4 mJ. Such discharges may be incendive but are less likely to cause ignition of a solvent - air mixture than an electrostatic discharge between two conductors.

See also

• Electrostatic discharge
• Electric spark

References

Electrostatics - code of practice for avoidance of hazards due to static electricity BSI - British Standards Institution, Published document, PD CLC/TR series PD CLC/TR50404:2003

(supersedes : Code of practice for control of undesirable static electricity general considerations, BSI - British Standards Institution, Standards and codes, BS series BS 5958-1:1991)

External links

• Explosions and ESD, Niels Jonassen
• How to Choose the Right Anti-Static Brush
• Brush discharge factors