ESD

BASICS
BASIC CONCEPTS IN
ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE (ESD)

©Copyright 2003 DESCO INDUSTRIES INC. 3/02

Introduction
ESD Control Training

www.esdsystems.com
All Materials Tribocharge
ElectroStatic Charge Generation:
• When 2 Surfaces in
Contact then Separate

• Some Atom Electrons Move

Causing Imbalance

One Surface Has Positive

Charge & One Surface Has
Negative Charge

www.esdsystems.com
Examples Of Electrostatic
Discharge or ESD

• Lightning
• Zap from a door

www.esdsystems.com
ESD or
ElectroStatic Discharge
• Charges Seek Balance
• Discharge is Rapid
• Creating Heat

www.esdsystems.com
Two Types of
Materials Conductors
• Electrical Current Flows Easily
• So Can be Grounded
• Can Discharge
• Examples Metals and People

www.esdsystems.com
Two Types of
Materials Insulators

• Electrical Current Does Not Flow Easily

• Cannot be Grounded
• Example: Plastics
Typically very high charging

www.esdsystems.com
Large Charges
Generated All The Time
• Walking across a carpet:
1,500 - 35,000 volts
• Walking over untreated vinyl floor:
250 - 12,000 volts
• Vinyl envelope used for work
instructions: 600 - 7,000 volts
• Worker at a bench:
700 - 6,000 volts
• Unwinding regular tape:
9,000 - 15,000 volts

www.esdsystems.com
People Discharge
Frequently

But To feel a
Discharge it
must be
about
3,000 volts

www.esdsystems.com
ESD That A Person Can’t Feel
Can Easily Damage Electronic
Components

100 volts or
less can
damage
components!

www.esdsystems.com
Electronic Component ESD
Sensitivity (ESDS)

Human Body Model (HBM)

• ESD Class 0: Damage you can’t feel: 0 to 199 Volts

• ESD Class 1: Damage you can’t feel: 200 to 1,999 Volts

• ESD Class 2: Damage you might feel: 2,000 to 3,999 Volts

• ESD Class 3: Damage you can probably

detect as spark with your 4,000 to 15,999 Volts
own body:

www.esdsystems.com
Tiny Conductive Paths Can
Easily Be Damaged
Smaller components mean greater sensitivity to ESD. Damage
to these components can not be detected by the naked eye.

• At this • At higher
magnification magnification,
we see that the pit in the
1/2 of the area between
width of the the base and
material emitter becomes
has been more obvious
destroyed
• Integrated Circuit
www.esdsystems.com
Types Of ESD
Device Damage

• Latent Defect
Component wounded
But Inspection Passes

• Catastrophic Failures
Inspection
Able to detect

www.esdsystems.com
Latent Defects
More Costly

• Sub Assembly passes inspection

• Assembly passes inspection
• Product passes inspection
• Works a while for customer
• Then Upsets & Mysterious Problems
• More Returns
• More Warranty Costs
• Lower Customer Satisfaction

www.esdsystems.com
Like Germs, ESD Is The
Hidden Enemy

Control Germs Control ESD

We are aware of
We should develop the
sterilization in medicine
same attitude about ESD

www.esdsystems.com
The Prerequisites
of ESD Control

• Identify ESD Area

• Identify ESD sensitive items
• Provide ESD
control training

www.esdsystems.com
The Basics Of ESD Control

• Ground Conductors

• Shield ESDS
When store
or transport
outside EPA
• Neutralize
insulators
with ionizers

www.esdsystems.com
Ground Conductors
Including People

• Wrist Straps

• Must work, so
test wrist strap daily

• Foot Grounders

• Must work, so
test foot grounder daily

www.esdsystems.com
Ground All Conductors in
ESD Protected Area
• Dissipative WorkSurfaces
– Ground ESD worksurface via
ground cord to common point
ground to equipment ground

• Conductive Floor Mats

– Ground ESD floor mats via
ground cord to equipment
ground

www.esdsystems.com
Neutralize Insulators
Via Ionizers

• Charged Insulators Cannot be grounded

• Ionizer air flow floods area with Ions
- Neutralizing Charge

www.esdsystems.com
Shield ESD Sensitive Items
Outside Protected Area

Charges Kept on Outside

of Package:
Faraday Cage
• Closed Metallized Shielding Bag
• Covered conductive tote box

www.esdsystems.com
ESD Protected Products
Regular Versions changed to be
Low Charging and/or Groundable

Remove Insulator or Change to ESD Version

• ESD Smocks and Gloves
• Conductive Foam & Shunt Bars
• Antistatic or Low Charging Tape
• Dissipative Binders & Document Protectors
• Dissipative Floor Finishes
• Conductive & Dissipative Flooring

www.esdsystems.com
You Are On The Front Lines
Fighting The Hidden Enemy
• Test Wrist Straps & ESD
Footwear daily
• Keep wrist band snug,
foot grounder grounding
tab in shoe, & ESD
Smocks buttoned up
• Only trained or escorted
people allowed in ESD
Protected Area

www.esdsystems.com
You Are On The Front Lines
Fighting The Hidden Enemy

• Keep work area clean &

clear of insulators
• Handle un-packaged ESD
sensitive items only when
grounded
• Visually check all grounding
cords to make sure they are
connected

www.esdsystems.com
You Are On The Front Lines
Fighting The Hidden Enemy

• Make sure Ionizers

are maintained and air
flow is not blocked
• Use shielded packaging
for shipping or storing
ESD sensitive items
outside the ESD
Protected Area

www.esdsystems.com
The Basics Of ESD Control

• Ground Conductors including

people

• Neutralize insulators
with ionizers

• Shield ESDS when store

or transport outside EPA

www.esdsystems.com
 ESD
BASICS
BASIC CONCEPTS IN
ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE (ESD)

©Copyright 2003 DESCO INDUSTRIES INC.