Beginner’s Guide to ESD Container Storage Selection

Static electricity, as unbelievable as this may seem, has the potential to cause massive damage every year. Both objects and human beings can generate static charges, and this static electricity becomes a paramount concern in areas where microelectronic parts and devices are manufactured, stored, assembled or shipped. Certainly we cannot eliminate static charges. However, we can control them by shielding static sensitive parts and assemblies in static charged environments. Storage containers selection is an exceedingly vital part in any ESD control program, particularly when it comes to storing, assembling and shipping microelectronic parts and devices.

ESD containers come in distinct form with regards to functionality, size, cost and the electrical shielding. For any container to pass the ESD standards it must offer particular electrical, mechanical, chemical and value related characteristics. The mechanical characteristics of a container substantially include the size, style and durability. Determining the exact characteristics is way more than just pinpointing a container vast and study enough to hold the parts and devices in question. Factors, such as the compatibility of the container with automated handling equipment and the plant space available, are of utmost importance when it comes to container selection. When it comes to chemical compatibility with the ESD standards, the container must be chemically inert.

With regards to electrostatic field attenuation, good ESD storage containers must have an inclusion of a suitable layer with a surface resistivity of ten thousand W per square. Moreover, the surface resistivity of a reliable ESD container ought to be between a hundred thousand to a million W per square. The tendency toward static charge generation must be utterly minimum and lastly, the container must conform to the devices that will be stored in them and to the environment which they will become accustomed to.

ESD storage containers must offer the correct combination of attenuation, grounding and static charge generation traits. Grounding refers to the connection of the container to the ground in order to establish zero potential relative to the earth. All static protective containers must dissipate all charges generated to avert any static damage. Attenuation refers to the degree of electrostatic shielding that a specific static protective container can attain. Usually, attenuation is defined by the strength of the electrostatic field allowed to enter into a container. ESD storage containers are efficiently attenuated with the sole intention of shielding an electrostatic field so that the charges do not reach any static sensitive devices.

Normally, an attenuated container offers a surface resistivity of up to ten thousand W per square. Often at times, you might find variations in the magnitude of the surface resistivity. In this case, play it safe and select a container with the highest magnitude. Good storage containers should offer minimal ground to charge generation. These containers are exceedingly significant, particularly if you possess some static sensitive microelectronic devices. The above electrical characteristics are crucial, and if you intend to purchase these containers, then these electrical essentials will come in handy.