Statguard Flooring - Questions And Answers

Does the presence of electrical fields pose a significant danger to ESD sensitive components? -Anonymous

Yes, charge induction is a real danger for ESD Sensitive (ESDS) devices. If strong enough, an electric field can charge surrounding insulators and conductors. If an ESDS device becomes charged enough that when brought into proximity or contact to ground potential on a conductor (conductive mat), an ESD event can occur following the Charge Device Model, ESD DS5.3.1.

Any ungrounded conductor can be charged to a large potential with respect to ground when brought near an electric field. An ESD event will naturally follow if the charged conductor is brought into contact or proximity to ground (or any large potential difference) via a very conductive path (<1x10³ ohms). One of the most significant components of a good ESD control program is to remove all unnecessary charge generators (insulators) and ground all conductors. If a necessary insulator must be used in the process, it should be controlled with the appropriate control device such as an ionizer.

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