In a world of ever increasing reliance on electronics there exists a hidden danger that can strike and cause untold damage at any stage of a product’s life.
This danger is the sudden release of electricity between two objects known as Electrostatic Discharge (ESD), caused mainly by Triboelectric charging, which is the transfer of electrons through friction between two objects’ surfaces. ESD charges can ignite explosives like gunpowder, or severely damage sensitive electronics, such as circuits. Even microscopic bursts of ESD can make capacitors or CCDs unusable.
Standard polymers such as unaltered polypropylene and polyethylene are inadequate for the transport and storage of sensitive products.
Instead specially designed materials and containers are used to prevent static discharge. Material solutions are divided into three broad, but different, categories based on their surface resistivity and general conductivity.
Anti-Static Materials, such as ASP, will inhibit Triboelectric charging. This antistatic polyropylene material is useful for electronic components and laboratory sciences which require specialized antistatic environments.
Conductive Materials, CAS, have a surface resistivity between 1×10^3 and 1×10^5 ohms/square inch. These conductive plastic containers are particularly useful in the pyrotechnic industry.
Static Dissipative Materials, BAS, have a surface resistivity between 1×10^8 and 1×10^11 ohms/square inch. This third category is used in a wide variety of industries ranging from electronics to medical applications.
LA Container offers Anti-ESD materials in an inclusive amount of container shapes and sizes for nearly any situation that may be needed. Many of these containers are now available in small quantities on our new eCommerce site www.esdplasticcontainers.com .
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