Ethan Clarke
Plastic containers are used in electrostatic discharge (ESD) protected work areas to protect devices, circuit cards, and assemblies from electrostatic damage. ESD containers are made from anti-static or conductive materials that prevent the buildup of static electricity. To identify if a plastic container is ESD-safe, you can refer to the product's datasheet, which should detail any ESD compliance markings. Testing the surface resistance of the container is another method to determine its ESD properties. ESD-safe containers are designed to meet specific standards, such as REACH, RoHS, and U.S. Department of Defense specifications, to ensure effective protection against electrostatic discharge.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Material | Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS-CAS), Anti-Static Polypropylene (BAS-PP), Conductive Anti-Static Polypropylene (CAS-PP), Carbon-loaded polymers |
| Colour | Black (due to carbon black in the material) |
| Surface Resistivity | Less than 10^5 ohms per square inch |
| Surface Resistivity Range | 108 to 1012 ohms/square |
| Purpose | Protect sensitive products from electrostatic discharge |
| Types | Containers, totes, trays, boxes, bins, vials, custom solutions |
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What You'll Learn
- ESD plastic containers are anti-static, with a surface resistance of less than 10^12 ohms per square inch
- ESD materials are categorised by their surface resistivity and general conductivity
- Insulative materials have high electrical resistance and are not ESD materials
- Anti-static materials inhibit triboelectric charging
- ESD containers protect electronic devices from electrostatic discharge
ESD plastic containers are anti-static, with a surface resistance of less than 10^12 ohms per square inch
ESD plastic containers are designed to protect sensitive products from electrostatic discharge. This discharge is a hidden danger in an increasingly technologically reliant world. ESD plastic containers are anti-static, with a surface resistance of less than 10^12 ohms per square inch.
ESD plastic materials are available in three categories based on their surface resistivity and general conductivity. The first category is anti-static materials, known as ASP, which inhibit triboelectric charging and have a surface resistivity between 10^9 and 10^12 ohms/square. The second category is static dissipative materials, known as BAS, with a surface resistivity between 10^8 and 10^11 ohms/square. The third category is conductive materials, which ground the container to the work surface.
Anti-static materials are those that inhibit triboelectric charging, which is the buildup of an electric charge due to rubbing or contact with another material. This is different from insulative materials, which prevent or limit the flow of electrons across their surface or through their volume and are difficult to ground. Anti-static materials, such as those used in ESD containers, protect electronic components and materials used in laboratory sciences by inhibiting this buildup of static electricity.
ESD containers are commonly used in electrostatic discharge (ESD) protected work areas (EPA) to protect devices, circuit cards, and assemblies during transport and storage. They provide both mechanical and electrical protection. The selection of materials for these containers is critical to adequately limit discharge currents and prevent charged device model (CDM) or charged board events (CBE) related ESD damage.
ESD containers are an effective solution to protect sensitive electronic parts and components from electrostatic discharge and electromagnetic interference (EMI).
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ESD materials are categorised by their surface resistivity and general conductivity
ESD materials are categorised into three distinct groups based on their surface resistivity and general conductivity. These are anti-static, static dissipative, and insulative materials.
Anti-static materials, known as ASP, inhibit triboelectric charging and have a surface resistivity between 10^9 and 10^12 ohms/square. Packaging made with antistatic polypropylene will protect electronic components as well as materials worked on within laboratory sciences, requiring specialised anti-static environments.
Static dissipative materials, known as BAS, have a surface resistivity between 10^8 and 10^11 ohms/square. Plastic packaging made with BAS polymers is useful in a wide range of industries, from storing electronics to medical equipment sensitive to large bursts of electrostatic discharge.
Insulative materials are defined as those having a surface resistivity of at least 1 x 10^12 Ω/sq or a volume resistivity of at least 1 x 10^11 Ω-cm. These materials prevent or limit the flow of electrons across their surface or through their volume. They have a high electrical resistance and are difficult to ground, thus are not ESD materials. Static charges remain in place on these materials for a very long time.
The speed of charge movement is referred to as the "resistance" of the material. The lower the number, the more conductive the material, and it may be considered "Antistatic". The speed is measured in Ohms and is typically displayed in powers of 10 (e.g. 10^3).
There are a variety of ESD plastic containers available on the market, such as the ASP-PP, which is a non-conductive plastic material that keeps the container static-free. The LABoxx™ ESD plastic hinged lid boxes are another example, made from a combination of ESD-inhibiting Blue Static Dissipative Polypropylene and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, making them a sturdy option.
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Insulative materials have high electrical resistance and are not ESD materials
ESD, or electrostatic discharge, is the electrical discharge between a statically charged object and another object of a different potential. ESD materials are generally subdivided into categories with related properties: anti-static, conductive, and dissipative.
Insulative materials have a high electrical resistance and are difficult to ground, thus are not ESD materials. They prevent or limit the flow of electrons across their surface or through their volume. Insulative materials have a surface resistance or volume resistance equal to or greater than 1 x 10E11 Ω. Plastics are insulators. They have a high electrical resistance, and charge does not flow through the material.
Anti-static materials are any materials that inhibit triboelectric charging, which is the buildup of an electric charge by rubbing or contact with another material. Anti-static materials have a surface resistivity between 10^9 and 10^12 ohms/square.
Conductive materials have low resistance to electricity, allowing electrons to move to the surface and between two conductive surfaces easily. Charges move to and from dissipative materials in a slower, more controlled manner. Conductive materials have a surface resistivity of less than 1 x 10E5 Ω/square or a volume resistivity of less than 1 x 10E4 Ωcm.
Static dissipative materials, or ESD-safe materials, have a surface resistivity of at least 1 x 10E5 Ω/square but less than 1 x 10E12 Ω/square. In terms of volume resistivity, a static dissipative material falls in the range of 1 x 10E4 Ωcm and 1 x 10E11 Ωcm. Charge flows more slowly with static-dissipative materials, which is what you want when protecting devices from ESD damage.
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Anti-static materials inhibit triboelectric charging
Anti-static materials, also known as ASP, are essential in inhibiting triboelectric charging. Triboelectric charging, also known as triboelectricity, triboelectric charging, triboelectrification, or tribocharging, is the transfer of electric charge between two objects when they come into contact or slide against each other. This phenomenon has been observed since ancient times, with the earliest recorded instance of electrostatic charging by Thales of Miletus around 585 BC, who noted the attraction of amber due to static electricity.
The triboelectric effect can occur with different combinations of solids, liquids, and gases. For example, it can occur between the sole of a shoe on a carpet or between two pieces of the same material. The first major scientific analysis of the triboelectric effect was conducted by William Gilbert in 1600, who discovered that materials such as sulphur, wax, and glass could produce static electricity when rubbed.
Anti-static materials are designed to prevent this buildup of electric charge. They have a surface resistivity between 10^9 and 10^12 ohms/square, which allows them to dissipate static electricity and protect sensitive products or devices. This is particularly important in industries such as electronics and medical equipment, where electrostatic discharge (ESD) can cause significant damage.
ESD materials are typically made of plastics that reduce static electricity. These plastics are categorized into anti-static, conductive, and dissipative types. Conductive materials have low electrical resistance, allowing charges to flow easily to the ground or another conductive object. Dissipative materials, on the other hand, allow charges to flow to the ground in a more controlled and slower manner.
By using anti-static materials in packaging, such as anti-static polypropylene, the buildup of static electricity can be prevented, ensuring the quality and integrity of the products within. This is especially crucial in maintaining the functionality of electronic components and protecting medical equipment from electrostatic discharge.
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ESD containers protect electronic devices from electrostatic discharge
ESD containers are vital for protecting electronic devices from electrostatic discharge (ESD). ESD refers to the sudden release of built-up static electricity, which can damage electronic parts if not controlled. This is because electronics contain integrated circuits that are highly sensitive and can be easily damaged by the sudden flow of electricity during an ESD event.
ESD containers are made from special materials that are either anti-static or conductive. Anti-static materials, also known as ASP, inhibit triboelectric charging, which is the build-up of an electric charge through rubbing or contact with another material. These materials have a surface resistivity of 10^9 to 10^12 ohms/square. Conductive materials, on the other hand, allow static electricity to flow to the ground, preventing it from accumulating and potentially damaging electronic devices. An example of a conductive material used in ESD containers is CAS-PP (Conductive Anti-Static Polypropylene).
Both types of materials are effective at preventing ESD damage to electronic devices. By using these containers, businesses can ensure that their electronic devices are protected during storage or transportation. This is especially important as technology continues to evolve and electronic components become smaller and more sensitive to ESD.
In addition to using ESD containers, it is also important to create an ESD-protected area to further safeguard electronic devices. This includes implementing measures such as anti-static flooring, grounding systems, proper storage and handling procedures, and the use of anti-static wrist straps and mats. By combining the use of ESD containers with an ESD-protected area, businesses can effectively minimise the risk of ESD damage to their electronic devices.
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Frequently asked questions
ESD stands for Electrostatic Discharge. ESD plastic containers are anti-static or conductive and can protect sensitive devices, circuit cards, and assemblies from harm.
ESD plastic containers are often black as the material contains carbon black, which allows the container to conduct. You can also test the surface resistance of the container; it must be less than 10 to the 12th ohms per square inch.
Some ESD plastic containers include Endural's anti-static or conductive containers and LA Container's LABoxx™ containers made from ABS-CAS rigid plastic.
