The document provides an overview of electrostatic discharge (ESD), explaining its causes, importance, and potential damages to electronic components. It emphasizes the need for preventative measures such as using ESD wrist straps, mats, and maintaining humidity to reduce risks. It also details proper handling techniques and the use of anti-static bags for storing sensitive components.

1. ESD Material Handling
Safety/Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)

2.  What Is Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)?
 Why is ESD important?
 ESD Damage
 Preventing ESD Damage
 ESD Workstation Components
 ESD Wrist Strap or Foot/Heel Strap
 ESD Floor or Table Mat
 Increasing Humidity
 Anti-static Bags
ESD Training Objectives:

3. What Is Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)?
 When two objects rub together, they create friction.
 A by-product of friction is heat.
 Result of the increased molecular activity brought about by
electrons moving back and forth between the two surfaces.
 Our bodies are constantly in motion. When we move
against another material, like carpet, we create friction.
 Results in rapid movement of electrons, some of which
remain in our bodies.
 This exchange of electrons builds up a charge within our
bodies

4. What Is Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)?
 Built-up electrons inside us are seeking an outlet:
 A way to flow through us to another electrically conductive
material that isn’t quite as charged up as we are.
 Such as a doorknob
 When we make contact with another electrically
conductive material, the electrons jump from our body
to the other material.
 So static electricity is the buildup of an electrical charge
within an object, such as a person, the discharge of
which is in the form of electricity.

5.  Our bodies constantly generate and release static
electricity.
 Almost every time we touch something, we discharge
some amount of static electricity.
 While you work on a circuit board, you can discharge
static electricity to components of the system just by
touching them.
 The human body can feel an electrostatic discharge of
3000 volts OR MORE.
 Less than 100 volts can damage or destroy the
delicate circuitry found in computers.
Why is ESD important?

6.  Discharge of high levels of electricity into wires and
components not designed to accept such levels will
result in damage.
 Damage is not always immediately apparent.
 Partial damage can result in intermittent errors in
the component or unit because some pulses still
flow properly while others don’t.
 Users will complain of errors and problems that
are not always duplicable.
ESD Damage

7.  Ensure that any electrostatic buildup in your body is discharged
immediately to the ground.
 You must provide a direct ground path from your body.
 Remove all static generating material (foam cups, plastic food
wrappers, scotch tape & dispenser) from work station.
 Use special electrostatic dissipative products.
 Slow the transference of electrostatic energy, allowing it to
dissipate before damaging components and units.
 If you are not sure whether a unit is static sensitive, it is always
best to handle it as if it were.
Preventing ESD Damage

8.  As a material handler or technician, it is your
responsibility to ensure you don’t cause damage to
systems you are servicing.
 Create an ESD workstation or environment to
reduce ESD damage.
 Always wear your wrist strap when handling units
at a workstation. Simply touching the ESD
workbench without a wrist strap is not allowed!
 A good ESD workstation should incorporate the
components shown on the next slide.
Preventing ESD Damage

9.  ESD wrist strap or foot/heel strap
 ESD floor mat/wax or table mats
 Increased humidity (this is an increasing concern
from our customers).
 Presence of moisture allows electrons to better
discharge safely into the air
 Anti-static bags
ESD Workstation Components

10.  ESD wrist strap or foot/heel straps (clean frequently)
 Attached to wrist with wire leading to designated plug-in
which is attached to grounded object
 Can be grounded to various items:
 ESD mat
 ESD floor mat
 Metal table or chair leg provided the table or chair leg is
grounded.
ESD Wrist Strap or Foot/Heel Straps

11.  ESD Floor or Table Mat
 Floor mat/wax placed where you stand
 The Table Mat is connected to the a ground and
provides a path for heel straps. Clean frequently to
ensure ground.
 Floor and underneath mat (where applicable)
should be kept free of dirt and debris. Clean
frequently to ensure ground.
 Table mat is placed on your work surface
 Provide route to ground through:
Grounding strap that runs from mat to a grounding
point
ESD Floor or Table Mat

12.  ESD buildup is greatly reduced in a humid
environment.
 As the presence of moisture in the air is increased,
electrons are better able to discharge safely into the
air instead of another object.
 Using a humidifier/air ionizer to increase the air
moisture in your work area can greatly reduce ESD
buildup.
 Too much humidity can cause condensation that
can damage components.
Increasing Humidity
(This is an increasing concern among customers)

13. Activity 10% RH 65% RH
Walking across carpet 35,000 volts 1,500 volts
Walking across vinyl
flooring
12,000 volts 250 volts
Working on a computer 6,000 volts 700 volts
Paper and plastic moving 7,000 volts 600 volts
Lifting a component poly
bag
20,000 volts 1,200 volts
Sitting in a padded foam
chair
18,000 volts 1,500 volts
Difference in ESD Generation based on Relative
Humidity (RH)

14.  Electronic components are shipped in special ESD bags.
 These bags protect the components inside from ESD
 They should be saved and used to store components that you
work with
 Storing components in these bags will reduce the risk of ESD
damage to the component
 Static sensitive units cannot be handled outside of an ESD bag
without wrist/heel straps, not even by the unit’s edges
 Never place any paperwork or tags inside the ESD bag with the
unit. Paperwork generates static electricity
Anti-static Bags

15.  Electrically conductive bags
 Usually black or gray, coated with a metallic or carbon layer,
or with a metallic weave.
 Metal helps conduct ESD across surface of bag to
ground very quickly
 Carbon slows ESD transference, routing the charge to
the ground
 Bags can be used over long periods of time without losing
effectiveness
Types Of Anti-static Bags

16.  Electrically Low-Charging Bags
 Usually pink, coated with a substance that
prevents static build-up.
 Very little protection might actually be afforded to
the components inside.
 Anti-static properties of the bag degrade over
time.
Types of Anti-Static Bags