It is important to consider antistatic, conductive or ESD packaging when it comes to the care and handling of expensive electronic devices. We have all seen static electricity in the form of lightning or perhaps felt the zap when reaching for a door knob. Similar types of electrical charges can have an effect on the electronic components in every day production, handling, shipping and warehousing. Unfortunately, their effect is much more hazardous and not as readily apparent. Static electricity is an electrical charge at rest. Static electricity is most commonly created by friction and separation. Friction causes heat, which excites the molecular particles of the material. When two materials are then separated, a transfer of electrons from one material to the other may take place.

Because electrons transfer, the absence or surplus of electrons creates an electrical field known as static electricity. The amount of static electricity generated depends upon the materials subjected to friction or separation, the amount of friction or separation and the relative humidity of the environment. Common plastic generally will create the greatest static charge. Low humidity conditions such as those created when air is heated during the winter will also promote the generation of significant static electrical charges.

Materials that easily transfer electrons (or charge) between atoms are called conductors and are said to have “free” electrons. Some examples of conductors are metals, carbon and ESD or commonly known as static dissipating films.