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jmtome2
Nov3-09, 01:09 PM
b]1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data[/b]
Electrostatic clamps are used for holding workpieces while they are being machined, for holding silicon wafers during electron beam microfabrication, etc. They comprise an insulated conducting plate maintained at a potential of several thousand volts and covered with a thin insulating sheet. The workpiece or the wafer resets on the sheet and is grounded. It is advisabled to apply a film of oil to the sheet to prevent sparking.

One particular type operates at 300 volts and has holding power of 2 atmospheres. If the insulator is Mylar (Class-A; \epsilon_r=3.2, what is its thickness?


2. Relevant equations

F=-\frac{dW}{dx}

W=\frac{1}{2}CV^{2}

Q=CV


3. The attempt at a solution
Can I treat this system as a parallel plate conductor with a dielectric in the center? I don't see how to extract the thickness from this.

F==-\frac{dW}{dx}=\frac{1}{2}\frac{Q^2}{C^2}\frac{dC}{ dx}=\frac{1}{2}V^2\frac{dC}{dx}

But the capacitance is constant C=\frac{Q}{\Delta V} meaning F becomes zero... which does not makes sense...

Is there another way to calculate the capacitance?

jmtome2
Nov3-09, 03:39 PM
I know the capacitance of a parallel plate configuration with dielectric filling the middle is C=\frac{A\epsilon_0\epsilon_r}{d}, but I also know that the grounded "plate" on top throws this off.... I'm just not sure how