A Study on the Effects of Airflow and Static Electricity on Analytical Balance Weighing

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of environmental factors — specifically airflow and electrostatic charge — on the accuracy of analytical balance measurements. A series of controlled experiments were conducted to evaluate mass deviations under varying ventilation speeds and electrostatic charge intensities. High-precision analytical balances from METTLER TOLEDO, Sartorius, and Ohaus were employed, together with instruments such as ionizing blowers and anemometers. Results indicate that even minor airflow disturbances (≥0.2 m/s) and low-level electrostatic charges (≥1 kV) can induce statistically significant weighing errors (p < 0.01), with airflow causing more immediate and pronounced deviations, reaching up to ±0.4 mg. Practical control strategies — including environmental isolation, static neutralization, and optimized weighing protocols — are proposed. The study presents a comprehensive comparison of interference sources and underscores the importance of environmental control in high-precision weighing. Future work will extend the tests to a broader range of balance models and assess performance under more extreme operational conditions.