Customer Support Training

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Preventing

Electrostatic Discharge
Introduction to Static Electricity Static Control Measures Terminology

INTRODUCTION to STATIC ELECTRICITY

Static electricity itself is impossible to see or touch. But when electrostatic discharge occurs, it is sometimes possible to see or feel a harmless shock. Even the mildest of these static discharges can cause permanent damage to sensitive electronic components. This damage can require costly rework or eld service repair. Most components damaged by static charges are only wounded, not destroyed. This wound decreases component lifespan, but typically does not cause diagnostic test errors. Further, static damage can build over time. Damaged components may exhibit intermittent problems that are difcult to diagnose within a printer. As a result, many customers with damaged components conclude that the printer is unreliable.

How is static electricity generated?

When we move around, we can generate electricity. For example: Have you ever walked across a carpet and been shocked by a doorknob? Have you been shocked by the key as you open your vehicle? This mild shock is the result of static electricity being discharged through you. Static charges develop in one of two ways: Friction of two surfaces, triboelectrication Proximity to an electrostatic eld, induction charging Shocks are the result of a discharge of a static charge, known as electrostatic discharge. Friction (Triboelectrication) When two surfaces are rubbed together, or make contact and separate, they become charged by friction. When friction occurs, electrons tend to migrate from the surface of one material to the surface of the other. One surface loses electrons and becomes positively charged. The other surface gains the electrons lost by the rst surface and becomes negatively charged. As the pressure or speed of contact and separation (friction) increases, the amount of static charge buildup increases. Rapidly moving materials can develop charges of more than 25,000 volts. This static charge involves one surface rubbing against a second surface, creating friction and building a charge, then discharging to a third surface to create the discharge path.

Static charges are caused by contact and separation of surfaces

Migration of electrons from atom-to-atom on two surfaces

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Proximity (Induction Charging) The second method of developing static charges is induction charging. A highly charged object has a statically charged eld surrounding it. If an isolated or ungrounded object enters this static eld, it too becomes charged.

Electrostatic Discharge
The transfer of a charge from one object to another conductive object is Electrostatic Discharge. For example, when you walk on carpet, friction caused by rubbing your feet across the carpets surface generates a charge on your body. The charge builds on your body until it discharges through your hand when you touch the doorknob. This is electrostatic discharge (ESD). You feel a shock because of the electron ow between the two points when the discharge occurs. To feel a shock, the magnitude of the static charge must be at least 3,500 volts. Walking across carpet can create a static charge of over 20,000 volts. It takes less than 50 volts of static charges to damage a circuit board. In another instance, you insert a key into you cars door and see a spark released from the key. In this case, the charge built up in your body is released from your hand and passes through the key when it touches the car. Some objects naturally generate static. Scotch tape is an excellent example. To see the static properties of tape, unroll some tape and hold your hand near it. The static charge causes the tape to jump to your hand. It is easy to generate a potentially damaging static charge. Even moving around generates static charges. Both friction and induction charging set the stage for a possible electrostatic discharge, which can critically damage or destroy sensitive electronic components. ESD charges are signicant in a High Tech Environment, where small amounts of static charges can damage a circuit board. Usually, we cannot see static damage when it occurs, so catastrophic damage may not be noticed or immediately detectable. Also, incremental damage can occur that shortens the product life. Static damage is the leading cause of eld return problems with electronic components.

STATIC CONTROL MEASURES

Although ESD cannot be completely prevented, you can take steps to control it. Treat all electronic components, integrated circuits (ICs), transistors, diodes, resistors, capacitors, and assembled circuit boards as static sensitive. To avoid damage to components, observe all static prevention measures.

Static Damage Prevention Techniques:

STATIC SENSITIVE COMPONENTS

Field service personnel should follow static control procedures at each customer site. The most effective static preventative measures are these: Use a proper static dissipative eld service kit Use proper packaging for static sensitive components PREVENTING ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE
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Field Service Kits Field service static kits should contain at minimum: A static dissipative mat A wristband A grounding cord with clips Proper grounding is an important part of static control. Firmly connect the mat and wristband to a ground before you begin working on the printer. Many ground cords have current limiting resistors in them to protect users from electric shock as well as provide proper grounding for static control. Static dissipative mats remove static charges slowly. Use the mat to hold static sensitive components while you work on the printer. Wristbands remove the static charges generated by your body movements. Occasionally touching the printer frame to ground yourself is not enough. A few movements can generate enough static electricity to cause component damage. To be effective, wristbands must be snug, touching each portion of your wrist. A loose wristband does not provide enough grounding to prevent static. Further, wristbands wear out over time and need to be periodically replaced. To determine when they need to be replaced, set regular intervals to measure the wristbands using an ohmmeter. They should typically measure in excess of 1 mega ohm. There are many different types of strap/cord combinations available for user comfort and convenience. Some wrist straps contain built-in resistance to limit exposure to electrical charges. Foot straps worn on both feet also control static. Like the wristband, foot straps must be properly grounded and snug to be effective. Packaging Materials Static shielding packaging is essential for ESD sensitive components. Static packaging includes black conductive containers or ESD shielding bags, required for storage or transport of static sensitive components and assembled circuit boards. Static sensitive components that are replaced in the eld must be stored in a static shielded bag before being returned to Xerox. Black conductive containers provide complete static protection as well as a layer of physical protection for delicate electronic components. This packaging is effective only if you keep the lid fully closed during transport and storage. Also, ensure that you are properly grounded before removing components from the container. There are many different qualities of static bags. Anti-static bags, which are typically pink poly bags, have some conductive material properties, but do not provide complete ESD protection against static elds. PREVENTING ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE
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 Full ESD shielding bags, or static shielding bags, prevent intrusion by static electricity sparks or electrostatic elds, as well as prevent friction buildup when the board moves within the bag. To prevent static damage, circuit boards must be kept in static shielding bags and opened only in an ESD controlled work area. Tips to prevent static damage while using static shielding bags: Be certain you are grounded before you remove static sensitive components from the bag to protect them from damage. Static shielding bags lose their protective properties over time. Only use them a few times. Never use a static shielding bag that is wrinkled or damaged. When packing components, use an ESD shielding bag that is large enough for the enclosure to be folded-over and kept closed. If the bag is not closed, the static preventive properties are defeated. When exchanging components, immediately repackage the replaced boards in static shielding bags. Do not place paperwork directly against PC board assemblies inside the bag.

FOLD BAG OVER & KEEP CLOSED

Finally, to avoid static charges, do not take certain materials into the printer area. Materials are divided into two basic groups: conductors and insulators. Conductors allow electrons to move freely throughout the item and can be discharged by grounding. Examples of conductors include the human body and most metals. Electrons within an insulator ow differently. Insulators may retain static charges at different levels on their surface. Examples of conductors include Scotch tape and Styrofoam. It is essential that eld service personnel remove all non-conductive items (insulators) from the printer repair area. Items that cannot be eliminated, such as packaging Styrofoam, must be kept separated from ESD sensitive devices by a minimum distance of two feet at all times. These materials include Styrofoam products such as cups or packing material, uncoated plastic bags, some plastics, vinyl, and Scotch tape. Further, do not use Scotch tape directly on the ESD materials, or on the outside or inside of a shielding bag. Instead, use resealable ESD labels. By taking these preventative measures and carefully handling components, you can decrease static damage to printers and increase customer condence in our products. PREVENTING ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE
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TERMINOLOGY
Antistatic material: A material that resists triboelectric charging and produces minimal static charge when
rubbed against itself or another material. Examples include pink poly foam and pink plastics.

Conductive material: An ESD protective material that provides a shield against an ESD spark or eld in
the air. Typically, plastics act as insulators and hold static charges. Conductive material plastics use coatings or additives such as carbon or metal to quickly dissipate static charges. Examples include certain black plastics used in bins and totes, but not all black plastic.

Conductors: A material with low resistance that allows electric current to pass through. Conductors allow
charges to ow through them easily, and charges are easily transferred to conductors. Examples include the human body, aluminum, copper, and silver.

Electrostatic Charge: A positive or negative charge on an object that has ESD potential. Electrostatic Field: An electrical eld that surrounds an object containing an electrostatic charge. Placing an electrostatic eld near static sensitive components may cause damage. ESD (Electrostatic Discharge): A transfer of electrostatic charge between items of different electric
potentials caused by direct contact or by proximity to an electric eld.

Induction Charging: The generation of static due to static elds. Insulators: A non-conductive material that resists the ow of electrons. Insulative material can hold static
charges for a long time. Examples include Styrofoam cups, tape, and rubber.

Resistivity: A measure of a materials ability to resist the ow of electrons. Static Dissipative Material: An ESD protective material capable of dissipating electrostatic charges
from its surfaces, typically having a surface resistivity of 105 to 109 ohms/sq. inch. Examples include static dissipative oor mats, and workstation mats. Charge transfers with static dissipative material occur much faster than insulators and slower than conductors.

Static Generative Materials: Any material that develops and holds static charge, and thus are hazardous
to ESD sensitive parts. Examples include most plastics, Styrofoam, clear plastic bags, and even some parts of synthetic clothing.

Static Sensitive: Electronic device that is susceptible to ESD damage. Examples include circuit boards,
resistors, and capacitors.

Static Shield: An item that protects static sensitive components from ESD and electrostatic eld damage. Examples include nickel bags with the opening totally closed, black tote boxes with lids on, static shielding bags, and a Faraday Cage. Triboelectric: The generation of static due to friction.
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