Statically charging polypropylene sheets

[Catapult]

So recently, I discovered this: http://www.magicwhiteboard.co.uk/

It's a statically charged polypropylene sheet that sticks to walls, paper, etc. Apparently they retain their static for a long time.

How do they charge these? A giant Van de Graaff generator? Rubbing it against a large carpet? Or is the sheet charged somehow during the process of production?

 

[CWatters]

I don't know for sure but I suspect the static is created as you unroll it.

 

[sophiecentaur]

So recently, I discovered this: http://www.magicwhiteboard.co.uk/

It's a statically charged polypropylene sheet that sticks to walls, paper, etc. Apparently they retain their static for a long time.

How do they charge these? A giant Van de Graaff generator? Rubbing it against a large carpet? Or is the sheet charged somehow during the process of production?

They probably haves a large supply of cats in the factory.

 

[DrZoidberg]

Those sheets may be statically charged when you first unroll them, just like many other kinds of plastic foil, but I don't think they are able to keep that charge for a long time under normal circumstances.
You can take any normal plastic foil and stick it to a wall by rubbing over it. But on most walls the foil will fall off again within a few hours. Wood and wallpaper are hygroscopic. So the moisture contained in those substances will slowly discharge the foil.
However if you "glue" plastic foil to a metal wall (or a wall covered in aluminum foil), it can stick there for years.

Anyway, in my opinion that whiteboard foil works similar to plastic wrap, which often has a cling agent added to it (e.g. polyisobutene) to increase the Van der Waals forces that make it stick.

 

[Catapult]

Those sheets may be statically charged when you first unroll them, just like many other kinds of plastic foil, but I don't think they are able to keep that charge for a long time under normal circumstances.
You can take any normal plastic foil and stick it to a wall by rubbing over it. But on most walls the foil will fall off again within a few hours. Wood and wallpaper are hygroscopic. So the moisture contained in those substances will slowly discharge the foil.
However if you "glue" plastic foil to a metal wall (or a wall covered in aluminum foil), it can stick there for years.

Anyway, in my opinion that whiteboard foil works similar to plastic wrap, which often has a cling agent added to it (e.g. polyisobutene) to increase the Van der Waals forces that make it stick.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S65ZzffW-Cw
Makes sense, thanks for your answer http://gizmodo.com/5807661/how-does-cling-wrap-cling