Guidelines for the Use of Antistatic Agents
Antistatic agents eliminate static electricity from the surfaces of various materials. They can be applied via brushing, spraying, rolling, dipping, wiping, or other methods to floors, carpets, workbench surfaces, component carriers, chairs, walls, ceilings, tools, paper, plastics, and upholstery, thereby rendering them ESD-protective to varying degrees. Certain antistatic agents also serve as effective cleaning agents; they can be mixed with water to clean surfaces such as floors and tabletops while simultaneously imparting antistatic properties.
It is important to note that antistatic agents should not be applied to circuit boards, parts, or components, as they may increase conductivity or compromise solderability. Cleaning processes will remove the antistatic agent, so treated surfaces may require re-application. The duration of protection provided by the agent can be assessed by rubbing the material (such as standard polyethylene), monitoring the electrostatic potential and decay time with an electrostatic field meter, or measuring the surface resistivity of material samples using appropriate equipment. ESD-protective materials requiring periodic treatment should be labeled with the date for re-verifying their ESD protection performance; such items may include transport bins, trays, and protective gloves.
When selecting an antistatic agent, key characteristics to consider-in addition to antistatic performance-include resistance to bacterial growth, non-toxicity, non-corrosiveness, and non-irritating properties for humans.