Email me to discuss static electricity issues, or visit Electrostatic Solutions site. ESD damage can cause failed components leading to equipment test failures and rework costs, or latent component failures which could cause failures in equipment in the field. In Europe, guidance is given in the EN100015 series of standards, and many manufacturers adhere to this as part of their Quality Assurance procedures. Good quality advice on effective implementation of EN10015 or in-house standards, tailored to suit the manufacturer's needs, can lead to significant savings in equipment outlay as well as product failure and rework costs. In many cases, the choice of material and its electrical properties is a key factor in controlling the generation and the safe dissipation of static electricity.
Conductive polymers are available which have properties suitable for a wide range of applications.
Sometimes the use of more traditional materials may be the most suitable choice to avoid static problems. The electrical properties of materials, such as resistivity and charge decay properties, are very important in the specification of materials for electrostatic uses. Often these must be measured according to recognised industrial or national standards. There are many national and international standards relating to electrostatics measurements, and there is not space to review them all here. This is currently the key standard applicable to electronics manufacture in Europe.