There are actually five terms that are often used interchangeably when it comes to electrostatic discharge, and they all mean different things. ESD is an acronym for electrostatic discharge. Many times it is erroneously used as a term for something that is “electrostatic discharge safe.” This is incorrect. Anti-static, conductive and dissipative are all terms that subdivide ESD into more detail. Something insulative is not considered ESD safe.
Materials are labeled with these terms based on individual surface resistance. Surface resistance is a measurement of how easily an electric charge can travel across a medium. Conductive materials are those that have a surface resistance of less than 1 x 105 ohms/square. Dissipative items have a surface resistance of more than 1 x 105, but less than 1 x 1011 ohms square.
Antistatic materials are generally referred to as any material which inhibits triboelectric charging. This kind of charging is the buildup of an electric charge by rubbing or contact with another material. An insulative material is one that has a surface resistance of greater than 1 x 1012 ohms square.