Van De Graaff Belts
Most recent answer: 10/22/2007
Q:
what is the best material to use as a belt for a Van De Graaff?
- todd (age 16)
stevensville, ont, canada
- todd (age 16)
stevensville, ont, canada
A:
Todd -
The book "Homemade Lightning" by R. A. Ford (copyright 2002, McGraw-Hill) has a lot of information about constructing things like Van De Graaff generators. Here is what Mr. Ford has to say about belt materials:
" Replacement belts of neoprene are available at reasonable cost and can have a life-time of up to about 400 hours. Gum rubber belts have a much shorter lifetime. The material should be slightly stretchable, have a high dielectric constant and density, and be resistant to ozone. Neoprene has these properties. "
-Tamara
The book "Homemade Lightning" by R. A. Ford (copyright 2002, McGraw-Hill) has a lot of information about constructing things like Van De Graaff generators. Here is what Mr. Ford has to say about belt materials:
" Replacement belts of neoprene are available at reasonable cost and can have a life-time of up to about 400 hours. Gum rubber belts have a much shorter lifetime. The material should be slightly stretchable, have a high dielectric constant and density, and be resistant to ozone. Neoprene has these properties. "
-Tamara
(published on 10/22/2007)