2021 PROFESSIONAL For ESD SAFE TOOLS working on static sensitive electronic components Static Dissipative COMPLETE ESD SAFE PROGRAMToll Free: (800) 494-6104 2 Types of ESD Damage What is ESD Static damage to components can take the form of upset failures or catastrophic failures. Basic Concepts in Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) We have all seen static electricity in the form of lightning or perhaps felt Upset failures - result in gate leakage the zap when reaching for a door knob. Similar types of electrical charges Catastrophic failures - occur in two forms, Direct and Latent can have an effect on the electronic components you handle every day in your work. Unfortunately, their effect is much more hazardous and not as Direct catastrophic failures occur when a component is damaged to the point readily apparent. where it is DEAD NOW & it will never again function. This is the easiest type of ESD damage to find since it usually can be detected during testing. Definition Static electricity is an electrical charge at rest. Static electricity is most Latent failures occur when ESD weakens or wounds the component to the commonly created by friction and separation. Friction causes heat which point where it will still function properly during testing, but over time the excites the molecular particles of the material. When two materials are wounded component will cause poor system performance and eventually then separated, a transfer of electrons from one material to the other may complete system failure. Because latent failures occur after final inspection take place. or in the hands of your customer, the cost for repair is very high. Not only is this type of damage hard to find, but it severely affects the reputation of As electrons transfer, the absence or surplus of electrons creates an your companys product. electrical field known as static electricity. The simple separation of two materials, as when tape is pulled off a roll, can also create this same An upset failure occurs when an electrostatic discharge has caused transfer of electrons between materials, generating static electrical fields. a current flow that is not significant enough to cause total failure, but in use may intermittently result in gate leakage causing loss of software or The amount of static electricity generated depends upon the materials incorrect storage of information. subjected to friction or separation, the amount of friction or separation and the relative humidity of the environment. Common plastic generally Upset or latent failures may pass your companys quality control testing will create the greatest static charge. Low humidity conditions such as program. In other words, static damage may occur that cannot be felt, those created when air is heated during the winter will also promote the seen, or detected through normal testing procedures. generation of significant static electrical charges. Think of Static As Contamination Materials that easily transfer electrons (or charge) between atoms are Damage caused by invisible and undetectable events can be understood called conductors and are said to have free electrons. Some examples of by comparing ESD damage to medical contamination of the human body conductors are metals, carbon and the human bodys sweat layer. Materials by viruses or bacteria. Although viruses and bacteria are invisible, they that do not easily transfer electrons are called insulators. Some well can cause severe damage even before you can detect their presence. A known insulators are common plastics, glass and air. Both conductors and defense against this invisible threat is sterilization. insulators may become charged with static electricity. When a conductor is charged, the free electrons give it the ability to discharge rapidly when it As an employee, the hidden threat of electrostatic discharge or ESD should comes close to another conductor with a different potential. be of great concern to you. ESD damage can significantly reduce your companys profitability. This may affect your profit sharing, your companys Typical Electrostatic Voltages ability to compete in the market place and even your employment. Everyone Many of the common activities you perform daily may generate charges on likes to take pride in their work, but without proper ESD controls, your best your body that are potentially harmful to components. efforts may be destroyed by static electricity that you can neither feel nor see. Some of these activities include: Walking across a carpet, 1,500 to 35,000 volts Walking over untreated vinyl floor, 250 to 12,000 volts ESD Safe Precision PicoFinish Screwdrivers Worker at a bench, 700 to 6,000 volts Vinyl envelope used for work instructions, 600 to 7,000 volts Picking up a common plastic bag from a bench, 1,200 to 20,000 volts Description Page Costly Effects of ESD Prec. Slotted/Phillips 4-5 When you feel a static shock, you are experiencing a minimum of 3,000 volts of electricity. Prec. Torx/TorxPlus 5 This shock known as Electro Static Discharge or ESD also may be responsible for damaging many of the rejected electronic components in Prec. Hex Screwdrivers 6 your company. While you can feel electrostatic discharges of 3,000 volts, smaller charges Prec. Nut Drivers 6 are below the threshold of human sensation. Unfortunately, smaller charges can and do damage semiconductor devices. Many of the CMOS technology components used in your facility can be damaged by charges of less than 1,000 volts. Some of the more sophisticated components can be damaged by charges as low as 10 volts. You should be aware of the ESD Safe Drive-Loc IV Handles/Blades/Sets relative sensitivity to ESD damage of devices you may be working with. Description Page As electronic technology advances, electronic components tend to become smaller and smaller. As the size of the components is reduced, so is the Drive-Loc IV Handle 7-8 microscopic spacing of insulators and circuits within them, increasing their sensitivity to ESD. As you can predict, the need of proper ESD protection increases everyday. Drive-Loc IV Sets 7 This Article courtesy of Desco Industries, Inc