Static electricity-visualizing material, static electricity-visualizing film, static electricity distribution-visualizing device, and static electricity distribution-visualizing method

Abstract

[Problem] The object of the present invention is to provide a static electricity distribution-visualizing material, a static electricity-visualizing film, a static electricity distribution-visualizing device, and a static electricity distribution-visualizing method, which can visualize a charged state to be seen with naked eyes so as to intuitively understand a static electricity distribution. [Solution] A static electricity distribution-visualizing material is manufactured so as to contain at least one of a fluorescent substance, a luminescent substance, an electroluminescent substance, a fractoluminescent substance, a photochromic substance, an afterglow substance, a photostimulated luminescent substance and a mechanoluminescent substance.

Claims

1. A static electricity-visualizing material containing at least one of a fluorescent substance, a luminescent substance, an electroluminescent substance, a fractoluminescent substance, a photochromic substance, an afterglow substance, a photostimulated luminescent substance and a mechanoluminescent substance, wherein the static electricity-visualizing material is placed throughout an entire measurement area of a measurement object having a charged portion, and by applying a stimulus and causing the charged portion and its vicinity to emit light, a state of a distribution of charge on or near a surface of the measurement object can be visualized, and wherein the static electricity-visualizing material is formed onto the entire measurement area of the measurement object without being influenced by the shape of the measurement object.

2. The static electricity-visualizing material according to claim 1, characterized in that a weight ratio of the fluorescent substance, the luminescent substance, the electroluminescent substance, the breaking luminescent substance, the photochromic substance, the afterglow substance, the photostimulated luminescent substance, and the mechanoluminescent substance is 20 to 80 wt %.

3. The static electricity-visualizing material according to claim 1, wherein the mechanoluminescent substance is: a substance represented by SrAl.sub.2O.sub.4 which is doped with Eu.sup.2+; a substance represented by SrAl.sub.2O.sub.4 which is doped with at least one of Eu.sup.2+, Ho.sup.3+, Dy.sup.2+, M.sub.1, M.sub.2 and M.sub.3 (M.sub.1, M.sub.2, M.sub.3=monovalent to trivalent metal ions different from each other); or a substance represented by CaYAl.sub.3O.sub.7 which is doped with Eu.sup.2+.

4. A static electricity-visualizing film, wherein the film is disposed on a surface of a measurement object and comprises the static electricity-visualizing material according to claim 1.

5. A static electricity-visualizing device capable of visualizing a distribution of static electricity charged on a measurement object, wherein the device comprises: the static electricity-visualizing film according to claim 4; and a visualization unit disposed in the vicinity of the static electricity-visualizing film and stimulating the static electricity-visualizing film to cause the static electricity-visualizing film to emit light.

6. The static electricity-visualizing device according to claim 5 wherein the visualization unit is a contact member which contacts the surface of the static electricity-visualizing film to physically stimulate the static electricity-visualizing film.

7. The static electricity-visualizing device according to claim 5, wherein the visualization unit is a magnet for applying a magnetic field to the static electricity-visualizing film.

8. The static electricity-visualizing device according to claim 5, wherein the visualization unit is a heating device for heating the static electricity-visualizing film.

9. The static electricity-visualizing device according to claim 5, wherein the visualization unit is a sound wave generator which irradiates the static electricity-visualizing film with a sound wave to vibrate the static electricity-visualizing film.

10. The static electricity-visualizing device according to claim 5, wherein the visualization unit is an electromagnetic wave generator which emits an electromagnetic wave at a wavelength other than a wavelength of light emitted by the static electricity-visualizing film.

11. The static electricity-visualizing device according to claim 5, wherein the visualization unit is a stretching/compressing machine for deforming the static electricity-visualizing film together with the measurement object.

12. The static electricity-visualizing device according to claim 10, wherein the emitted electromagnetic wave is visible light.

13. The static electricity-visualizing device according to claim 5, wherein a film temperature control unit capable of changing a temperature of the static electricity-visualizing film is arranged on or in the vicinity of the static electricity-visualizing film.

14. The static electricity-visualizing device according to claim 5, wherein the static electricity-visualizing device further comprises a recording unit which is disposed in the vicinity of the static electricity-visualizing film and records a luminescence state of the static electricity-visualizing film.

15. A static electricity visualizing method capable of visualizing a static electricity distribution charged on a measurement object, wherein the method comprises: a step of forming the static electricity-visualizing film according to claim 4 on a surface of the measurement object; a step of electrostatically charging at least the surface of the measurement object; and a light-emitting step of causing the static electricity-visualizing film to emit light using a visualization means for stimulating the static electricity-visualizing film.

16. The static electricity visualizing method according to claim 15, wherein the visualization means is physical stimulation by bringing a contact member into contact with a surface of the static electricity-visualizing film to stimulate the static electricity-visualizing film.

17. The static electricity visualizing method according to claim 15, wherein the visualization means is a magnetic field applied to the static electricity-visualizing film.

18. The static electricity visualizing method according to claim 15, wherein the visualization means is heat applied to the static electricity-visualizing film.

19. The static electricity visualizing method according to claim 15, wherein the visualization means is a sound wave which irradiates the static electricity-visualizing film to vibrate the static electricity-visualizing film.

20. The static electricity visualizing method according to claim 15, wherein the visualization means is an electromagnetic wave which irradiates the static electricity-visualizing film and has a wavelength other than the wavelength of light emitted from the static electricity-visualizing film.

21. The static electricity visualizing method according to claim 15, wherein the visualization means is a physical force deforming the static electricity-visualizing film together with the measurement object.

22. The static electricity visualizing method according to claim 20, wherein the electromagnetic wave is visible light.

23. The static electricity visualizing method according to claim 15, wherein the light-emitting step changes the temperature of the static electricity-visualizing film and then causes the static electricity-visualizing film to emit light using the visualization means.

24. The static electricity visualizing method according to claim 15, wherein the method further comprises a recording step for recording a luminescence state of the static electricity-visualizing film.

25. The static electricity-visualizing device according to claim 6, wherein the contact member is a destaticizing brush.

26. The static electricity visualizing method according to claim 16, wherein the contact member is a destaticizing brush.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a static electricity-visualizing device according to Embodiment 1.

(2) FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the static electricity-visualizing device according to Embodiment 1 viewed from X-direction illustrated in FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of the static electricity-visualizing device according to Embodiment 1.

(4) FIG. 4 is a photograph showing a result of sweeping a surface of a static electricity-visualizing film with a destaticizing brush.

(5) FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a charging distribution of a static electricity-visualizing film, measured by a static electricity distribution-measuring method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-085485.

(6) FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of a static electricity-visualizing device according to Embodiment 2.

(7) FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of a static electricity-visualizing device according to Embodiment 3.

(8) FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of a static electricity-visualizing device according to Embodiment 4.

(9) FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of a static electricity-visualizing device according to Embodiment 5.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(10) Embodiments of a static electricity distribution-visualizing method and a static electricity-visualizing device according to the present invention will be explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

Embodiment 1

(11) FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a static electricity-visualizing device according to Embodiment 1, and FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic side view of the static electricity-visualizing device according to Embodiment 1 viewed from X-direction in FIG. 1. As illustrated in these figures, in a static electricity-visualizing device 1 according to Embodiment 1, a static electricity-visualizing film 20 is formed throughout a surface of a rectangular flat measurement object 10, the static electricity-visualizing film 20 containing, as a static electricity-visualizing material, at least one of an fluorescent substance, a luminescent substance, an electroluminescent substance, a breaking luminescent substance, a photochromic substance, an afterglow substance, a photostimulated luminescent substance, and a mechanoluminescent substance.

(12) In addition, on the static electricity-visualizing film 20, a destaticizing brush 30 having a width equal to or larger than breadths of the measurement object 10 and the static electricity-visualizing film is disposed with a jig (not shown) so as to be brought into contact with a surface of the static electricity-visualizing film 20 from one end (right end) to the other end (left end) of the static electricity-visualizing film 20. The static elimination brush 30 can horizontally move freely (in Y-direction) between a lower end and an upper end of the static electricity-visualizing film 20.

(13) Furthermore, a camera (not shown) as a recording unit for recording a luminescence state of the static electricity-visualizing film 20 is fixed above the measurement object 10 with a jig (not shown).

(14) Herein, the static electricity-visualizing film 20 is not particularly limited as long as it is composed of a material containing at least one type of the aforementioned substances. A thickness of the static electricity-visualizing film 20 is not particularly limited, but the thickness is preferably within a range of 1 μm to 1 mm more preferably a range of 10 μm to 500 μm from the viewpoint of an emission intensity and handling ease.

(15) The static electricity-visualizing film 20 may be prepared by, for example, homogeneously mixing: an epoxy resin, an urethane resin, or the like; a curing agent and a solvent for controlling crosslinking/curing reaction of these resins; the above-described substances: and a dispersant/adjuvant for homogeneously dispersing the substances, and applying/curing this mixture on the surface of the measurement object 10. The concentration (weight ratio) of the above-described substances contained in the static electricity-visualizing film 20 is not particularly limited, but a range of 20 wt % to 80 wt % is preferable because light emission can be visually confirmed, and a range of 50 wt % to 70 wt % is more preferable because light emission can be visually confirmed more obviously.

(16) The destaticizing brush 30 as a contact member is not particularly limited as long as it has a static electricity-removing function, and a commercially available destaticizing brush may be used. Also, the measurement object 10 is not particularly limited as long as it can be electrostatically charged. Furthermore, the camera is not particularly limited as long as it can record the luminescence state of the static electricity-visualizing film 20, and a commercially available digital camera or digital video camera can be used.

(17) Next, an operation of the static electricity-visualizing device 1 (static electricity-visualizing method) according to Embodiment 1 will be explained. FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of the static electricity-visualizing device according to Embodiment 1.

(18) First, the static electricity-visualizing film 20 is formed on the surface of the measurement object 10 (S1). Then, the surface of the measurement object 10 is electrostatically charged using a charging device or the like (S2).

(19) Subsequently, the destaticizing brush 30 is moved (S3). That is, the destaticizing brush 30 as a visualization means is brought into contact with the surface of the static electricity-visualizing film 20 to physically stimulate the static electricity-visualizing film 20.

(20) Then, the corresponding to static electricity-visualizing film 20 emits light depending on the distribution of static electricity charged on the surface of the measurement object 10. That is, a part of the static electricity-visualizing film 20 corresponding to the static electricity distribution on the surface of the measurement object 10 emits light. At this time, the emission intensity of the luminescent static electricity-visualizing film increases depending on a charged quantity of the measurement object 10. Then, the luminescence is photographed by the camera disposed above the measurement object 10 (S4).

(21) As described above, by configuring the static electricity-visualizing method and the static electricity-visualizing device according to Embodiment 1 can be configured to measure the static electricity distribution of the measurement object which cannot be locally vibrated. Additionally, the static electricity-visualizing film emits light depending on the static electricity distribution of the measurement object, and therefore it is possible to intuitively understand how static electricity is distributed on the surface of the measurement object. Also it is possible to measure the charged quantity distribution of the measurement object 10 by measuring the emission intensity of the static electricity-visualizing film.

(22) Note that, in Embodiment 1, although the destaticizing brush 30 having a width equal to or larger than the breadths of the measurement object 10 and the static electricity-visualizing film 20 is used, the width of the destaticizing brush 30 is not limited. A destaticizing brush 30 having a width smaller than the breadth of the static electricity-visualizing film may be used. When such a destaticizing brush is used, it is necessary to scan the surface of the static electricity-visualizing film 20 with the destaticizing brush, and thereby the same effect as that of the aforementioned static electricity-visualizing device can be obtained.

(23) Additionally, although the destaticizing brush 30 horizontally move freely between the lower end portion and the upper end portion of the static electricity-visualizing film 20 in Embodiment 1, the moving direction of the destaticizing brush 30 is not particularly limited.

(24) Furthermore, although the destaticizing brush 30 is used as the contact member in Embodiment 1, the contact member is not limited to the destaticizing brush 30. For example, a conductive (10.sup.−6 to 10.sup.6Ω.Math.cm) object containing metal, carbon or the like may be used as the contact member.

Example 1

(25) A mixture of SrAl.sub.2O.sub.4:Eu.sup.2+ and a photocurable acrylic resin (manufactured by MICROJET Corporation) (SrAl.sub.2O.sub.4:Eu.sup.2+ weight ratio: 70%) was applied on an aluminum foil and cured as a static electricity-visualizing film. Shown are: a result obtained by charging the static electricity-visualizing film for 9 seconds by corona discharge, and then sweeping a surface of the static electricity-visualizing film with a destaticizing brush; and a result obtained by measuring the static electricity-visualizing film charged under the same condition as above by the static electricity distribution-measuring method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-085485.

(26) FIG. 4 is a photograph showing a result of sweeping the surface of the static electricity-visualizing film with the destaticizing brush. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a static electricity distribution measured by the electrostatic charging-measuring method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-085485.

(27) As can be seen from FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, it was found that the static electricity distributions of the aluminum foils in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 almost coincided with each other. That is, it was found that the static electricity distribution could be measured by causing the static electricity-visualizing film to emit light.

Embodiment 2

(28) Although physical stimulation for stimulating the static electricity-visualizing film is used as the visualization means in Embodiment 1, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the static electricity-visualizing film may be stimulated using a magnet as the visualization means.

(29) FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of a static electricity-visualizing device 1A according to Embodiment 2. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the static electricity-visualizing device 1A according to Embodiment 2 has the same configuration as that of the static electricity-visualizing device according to Embodiment 1 except that, instead of the destaticizing brush, a magnet 30A which is a visualization unit having square side faces is disposed above the measurement object 10.

(30) The magnet 30A has a width equal to or larger than breadths of the measurement object 10 and the static electricity-visualizing film 20, arranged so that its position relative to the static electricity-visualizing film 20 can be changed, and can apply a magnetic field to the static electricity-visualizing film 20.

(31) The moving direction of the magnet 30A is not particularly limited. The magnet 30A may move horizontally (in Y-direction) along the surface of the static electricity-visualizing film 20, or may move perpendicularly to the surface of the static electricity-visualizing film 20 (in Z-direction).

(32) Herein, the magnet 30A is not particularly limited as long as it can apply a magnetic field to the static electricity-visualizing film 20, and a permanent magnet or an electromagnet may be used.

(33) Then, in the same procedure as for the static electricity-visualizing device 1 according to Embodiment 1, a magnetic field can be applied to the static electricity-visualizing film 20 to cause the static electricity-visualizing film 20 to emit light. The same effect as that of the static electricity-visualizing device 1 according to Embodiment 1 can also be obtained by such a configuration of the static electricity-visualizing device 1A.

(34) Note that, a width of the magnet 30A used in Embodiment 2 is not particularly limited as is the case with the destaticizing brush according to Embodiment 1. Also, the moving direction of the magnet 30A is not particularly limited. Furthermore, when an electromagnet is used as the magnet 30A, the magnetic field may be applied to the static electricity-visualizing film 20 by changing a direction and an amount (magnitude) of a current flowing through the electromagnet while fixing a relative position between the magnet 30A and the static electricity-visualizing film 20,

Embodiment 3

(35) In Embodiment 3, a case of using heat as a visualization means will be explained. FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of a static electricity-visualizing device 1B according to Embodiment 3. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the static electricity-visualizing device 1B according to Embodiment 3 has the same configuration as that of the static electricity-visualizing device according to Embodiment 1 except that there is no destaticizing brush, the static electricity-visualizing film 20 is formed on one surface of the measurement object 10, and a heater 30B as a heating device is attached to the other surface of the measurement object 10 so as to cover the entire surface.

(36) The heater 30B is connected to a power source (not shown) and can heat (stimulate) the static electricity-visualizing film by heating the measurement object 10.

(37) Herein, a shape, a material and the like of the heater 30B are not particularly limited as long as it can uniformly heat the static electricity-visualizing film 20, and a commercially available heater or the like can be used.

(38) Then, in the same procedure as for the static electricity-visualizing device 1 according to Embodiment 1, the static electricity-visualizing film 20 can be heated to cause the static electricity-visualizing film 20 to emit light.

(39) The same effect as that of the static electricity-visualizing device 1 according to Embodiment 1 can also be obtained by such a configuration of the static electricity-visualizing device 1B.

(40) Note that, although the heater 30B is used as the heating device in Embodiment 3, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a single or a plurality of a hot air generator capable of discharging heated air or the like, a halogen lamp, a xenon flash lamp, an infrared heater and the like may be disposed above the static electricity-visualizing film 20, so that the static electricity-visualizing film 20 can be uniformly heated. The same effect can also be obtained by such a configuration of the static electricity-visualizing device.

Embodiment 4

(41) In Embodiment 4, a case of using a sound wave/electromagnetic wave as a visualization means will be explained. FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of a static electricity-visualizing device 1C according to Embodiment 4. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the static electricity-visualizing device 1C according to Embodiment 4 has the same configuration as that of the static electricity-visualizing device according to Embodiment 1 except that, instead of the destaticizing brush, a sound wave generator 30C which is a visualization unit having square side faces is disposed above the measurement object 10.

(42) The sound wave generator 30C is disposed so that a direction of sound wave irradiation can be arbitrarily changed. The sound wave generator 30C can irradiates a predetermined part of the static electricity-visualizing film 20 with the sound wave to vibrate (stimulate) the part.

(43) Herein, the sound wave generator is not particularly limited as long as it can irradiate the static electricity-visualizing film with a sound wave. The sound wave generator may be not only a device capable of emitting a sound wave at a human audio frequency (20 Hz to 20000 Hz), but also a device capable of emitting an ultrasonic wave at 20000 Hz or higher, or a device capable of emitting a pulse wave or a shock wave.

(44) Then, in the same procedure as for the static electricity-visualizing device 1 according to Embodiment 1, the static electricity-visualizing film 20 is irradiated with a sound wave to cause the static electricity-visualizing film 20 to emit light.

(45) The same effect as that of the static electricity-visualizing device 1 according to Embodiment 1 can also be obtained by such a configuration of the static electricity-visualizing device 1C.

(46) Note that, although the static electricity-visualizing device is configured so as to have one sound wave generator in Embodiment 4, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. It is needless to say that a plurality of sound wave generators may be installed.

(47) Furthermore, an electromagnetic wave generator capable of emitting an electromagnetic wave at a wavelength other than a wavelength of light emitted by the static electricity-visualizing film 20 may be used instead of the sound wave generator 30C to configure the static electricity-visualizing device 1C.

(48) Herein, the electromagnetic wave generator is not particularly limited as long as it can emit an electromagnetic wave. Also, the wavelength of the generable electromagnetic wave (e.g., a wavelength ranging from 1 m to 1 pm, including microwave, terahertz wave, far infrared ray, infrared ray, visible light, ultraviolet ray, and X-ray) is not limited. Examples of the electromagnetic wave generator include an infrared irradiator, an ultraviolet irradiator, an X-ray irradiator, and the like.

(49) The same effect as that of the static electricity-visualizing device 1 according to Embodiment 1 can also be obtained by such a configuration of the static electricity-visualizing device.

Embodiment 5

(50) In Embodiment 5, a case of using a physical force as a visualization means will be explained. FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of a static electricity-visualizing device 1D according to Embodiment 5. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the static electricity-visualizing device 1D according to Embodiment 5 is provided with a load applicator (compressor) 30D as a visualization unit sandwiching the measurement object 10 having the static electricity-visualizing film 20 on the surface so as to apply a physical force to the static electricity-visualizing film 20 together with the measurement object 10.

(51) Herein, the load applicator 30D is not particularly limited as long as it can apply a physical force (compressive force) to the measurement object 10 to deform the static electricity-visualizing film 20 together with the measurement object 10. Examples of the load applicator 30D include a compression tester, a three-point bender, and the like.

(52) Then, in the same procedure as for the static electricity-visualizing device 1 according to Embodiment 1, the static electricity-visualizing film 20 can be deformed together with the measurement object 10 using the load applicator 30D to cause the static electricity-visualizing film 20 to emit light. The same effect as that of the static electricity-visualizing device 1 according to Embodiment 1 can also be obtained by such a configuration of the static electricity-visualizing device 1D.

(53) Note that, in Embodiment 5, although the static electricity-visualizing film 20 is deformed together with the measurement object 10 using the load applicator 30D, the present invention is not limited to this load applicator. For example, the static electricity-visualizing device 1D may be configured using a stretching machine instead of the load applicator 30D.

(54) The stretching machine is also not particularly limited as long as it can apply a physical force (tensile force) to the measurement object 10 to deform the static electricity-visualizing film 20 together with the measurement object 10. Examples of the stretching machine include a tensile tester, a three-point bender and the like.

(55) The same effect as that of the static electricity-visualizing device 1 according to Embodiment 1 can also be obtained by such a configuration of the static electricity-visualizing device 1D.

Other Embodiments

(56) Although the temperature of the static electricity-visualizing film was not changed in the aforementioned embodiments excluding Embodiment 3, a temperature of the static electricity-visualizing film may be increased or decreased during measurement, by arranging a film temperature control unit such as a heater or a Peltier element on or in the vicinity of the static electricity-visualizing film. Herein, the film temperature control unit is not particularly limited as long as it can change the temperature of the static electricity-visualizing film.

(57) As described above, it is possible to increase a difference in light emission luminance between the charged region and the uncharged region by changing the temperature of the static electricity-visualizing film during the measurement. As a result, it is possible to more clearly distinguish between the charged region and the uncharged region.

(58) In addition, although a rectangular flat object was used as the measurement object in the aforementioned embodiments, the shape of the measurement object according to the present invention is not particularly limited. Other examples of the shape of the measurement object include any shapes such as a cubic shape, a rectangular parallelepiped shape, a triangular prism, a triangular pyramid, a spherical shape, an elliptic rotating body shape, an indefinite shape, and the like. The static electricity distribution on the surface of the measurement object having any shape can be visualized.

(59) Furthermore, although a single visualization means or visualization unit was used in the aforementioned embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto. The same effect can also be obtained by combining a plurality of visualization means or visualization units.

(60) Note that, although the camera as the recording unit was installed so as to record the luminescence state of the static electricity-visualizing film in the aforementioned embodiments, it is needless to say that the luminescence state of the static electricity-visualizing film can be observed with naked eyes without installing a camera.

(61) Furthermore, although the static electricity-visualizing material and the static electricity-visualizing film which include at least one of a fluorescent substance, a luminescent substance, an electroluminescent substance, a breaking luminescent substance, a photochromic substance, an afterglow substance, a photostimulated luminescent substance, and a mechanoluminescent substance were used in the aforementioned embodiments, it is needless to say that a static electricity-visualizing material and a static electricity-visualizing film obtained in which a plurality of substances among these substances are mixed may be used.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

(62) 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D static electricity-visualizing device 10 measurement object 20 static electricity-visualizing film 30 destaticizing brush 30A magnet 30B heater 30C sound wave generator 30D load applicator