A Global Guide to Winter "Zaps!" - Characteristics of People Prone to Static Electricity and a Thorough Explanation of Clothing Combinations to Avoid

Introduction: Why "Zap!" Increases Worldwide in Winter

In Japan during winter, many people hesitate for a moment before touching a doorknob.
However, this phenomenon is not unique to Japan. In the dry winters of North America and Europe, the cold seasons in China and Korea, and even in desert climate offices, "static electricity shock" is a common winter occurrence.

Static electricity is caused by the "triboelectric effect," where electrons become imbalanced when objects touch or rub against each other and then separate.Wikipedia+1
Dry air makes it difficult for electricity to escape, leaving the electricity accumulated in the body or clothes with nowhere to go. When you touch something conductive like a metal doorknob, elevator button, or automatic door sensor, the electricity escapes all at once, causing a "zap!" and a spark.

Winter fashion, which involves layering thick sweaters, tights, and scarves, increases friction between clothes, further accelerating static electricity. It's also true that modern clothing, with its abundance of synthetic fibers, is more prone to static electricity than in the past.Lucent Globe+1

Chapter 1: Understanding Static Electricity from a Global Perspective

1-1 Static Electricity as "Electric Imbalance"

All substances are made up of protons with positive charges and electrons with negative charges. Normally, the positive and negative charges balance each other out, making them neutral. However, when objects rub against or touch and then separate, electrons move from one object to another, causing an imbalance where the object losing electrons becomes positive and the one receiving them becomes negative.Wikipedia+1

When objects separate in this state, electricity becomes fixed on each surface, resulting in "static electricity."
Almost any solid, including the human body, clothes, hair, plastic, rubber, and glass, can become charged.

1-2 "Triboelectric Series" and Clothing

Materials are categorized as "electron donors" or "electron acceptors," and this categorization is known as the "triboelectric series."keyence.com.sg+2spicerart.com+2

• On one side are materials like nylon and wool, which are "prone to positive charging."

• On the opposite side are materials like polyester and acrylic, which are "prone to negative charging."

These materials are arranged in such a way.

The greater the "difference in position" between the materials, the more static electricity is generated when they rub against each other. This is a basic rule introduced in textbooks worldwide.keyence.com.sg+1

1-3 Why It Worsens in Winter

High humidity allows moisture in the air to act as a "pathway" for electricity to escape. However, in dry indoor environments due to heating or in the cold winter air of frigid regions, the air's humidity decreases, leaving electricity with no escape route.

As a result,

• sparks fly when taking off a sweater

• hair stands on end

• tights or skirts cling to legs

such static electricity troubles become more noticeable.Wikipedia

Chapter 2: Characteristics of People Who Accumulate Static Electricity

Combining expert comments introduced on TBS programs with overseas research on static electricity and ESD (electrostatic discharge),certain common tendenciescan be observed in people who easily accumulate static electricity.TBS NEWS DIG+2ResearchGate+2

2-1 People with Dry Skin

The surface of the skin has a "sebum membrane" made of sweat, sebum, and moisture, which, when adequately moisturized, slowly dissipates electricity.
However, for those with dry skin, this membrane is thin, and the moisture in the stratum corneum is low, making the body surface more like an "insulator." In this state,electricity accumulated in the body does not easily escape, making strong discharges more likely with slight contact.TBS NEWS DIG+2jh399.k12.sd.us+2

People with naturally dry skin, those with atopic or sensitive skin, and those who do not engage in much moisturizing care during winter are more prone to static electricity, regardless of where they live in the world.

2-2 People Who Move or Walk a Lot

• frequently walking around at work

• engaging in physically active standing work

• running around outside with children

Such individuals naturally increase the frequency of friction between "clothes," "clothes and body," and "shoes and floor."

Experts also point out that **"the more you move, the more likely static electricity is to occur."**TBS NEWS DIG+1
Especially in carpeted offices or jobs requiring uniforms with many synthetic fibers, a significant amount of electricity can accumulate in the body by the end of the day.

2-3 People Who Wear Rubber-Soled Sneakers for Long Periods

According to TBS's explanation,people who wear rubber-soled sneakers for long periodsare also identified as a type prone to accumulating static electricity.TBS NEWS DIG

• Rubber is an insulator that does not easily conduct electricity

• making it difficult for accumulated body electricity to escape to the ground

Therefore, walking around all day in sneakers gradually raises the body's electric potential, making it more likely to experience a "zap!" when touching doorknobs or elevators.

Globally, in factories and semiconductor facilities, it is recommended to wear shoes known as "ESD protection shoes,"which have moderate conductivity, highlighting the importance of "shoe selection" as a key point in static electricity prevention.keyence.com.sg+1

Chapter 3: Cautionary Clothing Materials and "NG Combinations"

3-1 Materials Prone to Static Electricity and Those That Are Not

Organizing TBS's explanations and information from the globally used triboelectric series, clothing materials can be broadly categorized as follows:Lucent Globe+3TBS NEWS DIG+3keyence.com.sg+3

Materials Prone to Negative Charging (Attracting Positive Charges)

• Acrylic

• Polyester

• Acetate

• Some plastic-based synthetic fibers

Intermediate Materials Less Prone to Charging

• Cotton

• Some rayon blends, etc.

Materials Prone to Positive Charging (Attracting Negative Charges)

• Rayon

• Wool

• Nylon

The key point here is not **"which material is bad," but "which materials are combined."**

3-2 Understanding High NG Combinations

The amount of static electricity generated depends onhow far apart the two combined materials are in the triboelectric series.keyence.com.sg+1

TBS's explanation also states that combining "acrylic," which is prone to negative charging, with "nylon," which is prone to positive charging, makes static electricity very likely to occur.TBS NEWS DIG

##HTML_TAG_494