Modified Electrophorus (precharged variable capacitor)

[Kator01]

Conrad,

the reason that 3M-Air-Filter-Material loose charge is because of the accumulation of the positive particles during the air-filter-process.

Since you do not use this material as an airfilter I do not think it will loose its charge.

So you might ask 3M techicians about this.

Regards

Kator01

[conradelektro]

@Kator01: I have to get this 3M filter material, very interesting.

@telecom: your arguments are way over my head, I do not know enough to reply.

I am not at home for a week and writing on a tablett is awkward.

Till then, and thank you for your interest,

Conrad

[sm0ky2]

I was thinking along the lines of off-setting the gravitational force for the purpose of experimenting with the electric.

Such as the use of springs

or Magnets

the math does not work out the same between the two.
I do not wish to speculate too much on this, just as to say that they are not the same.
But either can be used to offset the effects of gravity to some degree.

[Kator01]

Conrad,

there is a second thought I have and therefore a word of caution : 

I remember that I had seen years ago a detailed description by 3M of how this filter is build. It consist of fine flat filaments
with opposing charge on each side. These filament are bulk-interwoven so when the air ist flowing in and through this filament-jungle the posivive charged dust-particle are collected within this filter.

That means that you dont have the whole filter-piece charged opposite on both areas which actually is what you need.

You can see the inner filament-structure at page 2  of this document here ( encircled pic at the bottom left )

http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/843394O/datasheets-purification-luftfiltration.pdf

I would write them a mail to find out if there is a product or a sample which has opposing charge on the big area outside.  or the can provide you with a sample of the small flat filaments so you can build a bigger electret-surface yourself.

Wish you success.

Edit: I found the old document in the internet-archive:

The old website dated back to 2009
http://web.archive.org/web/20090826191446/http://solutions.3mdeutschland.de/wps/portal/3M/de_DE/eamd/home/produktinfo/produkte/luftfiltration/elektret/

You can even download this old document from the archive:
http://web.archive.org/web/20160305154342/http://solutions.3mdeutschland.de/3MContentRetrievalAPI/BlobServlet?locale=de_DE&lmd=1125572412000&assetId=1114272438497&assetType=MMM_Image&blobAttribute=ImageFile

May be this here is of interest:
http://www.nuenergy.org/radiant-energy-diatribe/

Regards

Kator01

[conradelektro]

I was thinking along the lines of off-setting the gravitational force for the purpose of experimenting with the electric.

Such as the use of springs

or Magnets

the math does not work out the same between the two.
I do not wish to speculate too much on this, just as to say that they are not the same.
But either can be used to offset the effects of gravity to some degree.

Good idea! I believe in experiments, Theories come after successful experiments.

Put two cylindrical magnets in a vertical tube with North poles facing each other.The top magnet should hoover above the lower one. But the top magnet is pressed closer to the lower one by gravity.

I think that nothing is gained.

Greetings, Conrad