ELECTROSTATIC
DISCHARGE (ESD)
BASIC TRAINING
What is ESD?
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) is the sudden flow of electricity between
two objects caused by contact, an electrical short, or
dielectric breakdown
• These discharges are. usually invisible for human eye
• Lightning is one of the extreme example of sparks
Causes of ESD?
1. Tribocharging - Static Electricity is often generated through
tribocharging, the separation of electric charges that occurs when two materials
are brought into contact and then separated.
Example:
walking rubbing removing plastic packages,
Typical Electrostatic Voltages:
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
2. Electrostatic Induction - This occurs when an electrically
charged object is placed near a conductive object isolated from
ground.
E- FIELD
can damage an
ESDS.
Photo of ESD arching from finger to
component
This is not a computer simulation.
Technician was connected to a small
magneto.
REMEMBER !
We may Not “ Feel” Static
but it is Always there
What are the effects of ESD?
It causes damage to our sensitive units:
POWER
SENSORS
The unseen discharges damages our units from the inside:
Sample Pictures of actual ESD Damage
A.
175x 200x 4300x
B. C.
175x 4300x
2 Types of ESD Damage
Catastrophic Failures
Inspection is able to detect
failure – Electrical Rejects.
Latent Defect
Component wounded but passes
Inspection or Electrical Test. This is
much worst because these devices
can reach our Customers!
What Types of Materials Can Generate
Static Electricity?
Almost any material can generate static electricity. The ability to store or
dissipate the charge depends on the type of material.
Examples of Conductors at your
Workstation
•Conductors can generate charges.
•Those charges can jump to ESD Sensitive components
and assemblies.
Examples of Insulators at your Workstation
•Insulators hold charges.
•Those stored charges can be discharged to ESD Sensitive
components and assemblies.
Do not place Insulator Materials that has High
Levels of Charges Near Our Units!
Plastic
Folders
How to Prevent ESD Damage?
1. Prevent the units from becoming charged!
2. If the units becomes Charged, it must not be Discharged fast!
Wear Smock/Bunny Suit Wear ESD/Safety shoes
Area Warning Signs
ESD Protective Symbol ESD Susceptibility Symbol
Indicates that handling or use of ESDS item may result
Indicates protection to ESDS item. in damage from ESD if proper precautions are not taken.
Applied to mats, chairs, wrist straps, garments,
packaging.
ESD Protected Area
Area warnings signs alert personnel that they
are working in ESD Protected area.
Wear ESD wrist strap connected to GROUND when
touching our ESD Sensitive Units:
Use Tables and Racks with Grounded Dissipative Mats
if units are to be placed or stored.
Note: Grounded Dissipative Mats slowly removes (dissipates) the charges of a charged unit.
Remember, ESD damage happens if the discharge is very fast.
If Insulator Materials (Plastics) with high charges can not be removed from the
Process (near units), Install Ionizers.
Install Ionizers also on areas that generates high static charges which is near the units.
Ex. Machines with fast movements (sawing, pick & place. Etc.)
All Racks & Tables w/ units should be grounded to
ESD Ground.
All Machines should be grounded to Main AC
Ground.
REMINDER
handling
Wear wrist strap when
units while seated
× Handle units without using wrist
strap while seated.
when
Use ESD Checker/Turnstile
entering the production
× Wearing jacket over smocks.
area.
× Placing sheets/objects under ESD
table mat.
atUseallESD Personal Equipment
times (smocks, shoes,
wrist strap) inside the EPA × Handling
hands.
ESDS devices with bare
when
Use of finger cots or gloves
handling ESDS devices. × Bypassing ESD checker i.e.
Turnstile.
Note: Report defective CGMs (as indicated by the LED light) in their respective
machines/tables being used to Immediate Superior)
