ESD Shielding Bags- Everything You Need to Know

Are you looking for the perfect static shielding bags for storing and transporting ESD-sensitive products safely? If yes, then we can help you choose the best bag for your product. There is a variety of such bags available in the market that might confuse you. But don’t worry, we will assist you and tell you which type of bag is suitable for your ESD-sensitive item.

We will also guide you on using these bags efficiently and telling you the safety precautions to prevent any harm. Keep reading the article, and we hope you will be to pick the right bag for your purpose and will be able to use these bags properly.

What are ESD Shielding Bags?

These ESD bags are perfect for guarding sensitive electronic equipment against electrostatic discharge (ESD) during storage and shipping. Furthermore, these bags are multi-layered, shield the charges inside and outside of the bag, and prevent electricity build-up. In short, an ESD bag is ideal for safe storage of your PCB layouts, motherboards, microchips, computer components, and much more.

Types of ESD Shielding Bags:

Depending on shielding characteristics and electricity build-up, we can divide these ESD bags into three types that are static, Anti-Static, and dissipative bags. We will discuss all three types to help you choose the best static shielding bags for your application or use. Let us discuss each type of these bags in detail.

· Static Shielding Bags:

Static bags are transparent and metallised, which protects the electrical contents from electrostatic damage. These bags make “Faraday Cage” to prevent the electrostatic charges dissipation from the electrostatic protected area. Moreover, these static anti static bags provide you with intimate and proximity packaging, making them suitable for ESD-sensitive products.

These anti static bags have a multi-layer structure to provide a high level of shielding against electrostatic discharge. Its innermost layer consists of polyethylene surrounded by a layer of aluminium that helps you safely touch ESD products without any impairment. Furthermore, its intermediate layer contains aluminium that protects against physical damages. Finally, the outermost layer constructs from polyester that offers the dissipation of external static discharge on the bag.

· Anti-Static Shielding Bags:

Anti-Static Bags are manufactured from anti static material that does not charge up when you rub them against other materials. Hence, these bags effectively use in storage and transport your non-ESD sensitive devices within the ESD protected area. Furthermore, these bags can ground static charges, but these bags do not provide proper shielding.

These Anti-Static bags manufactures from LDPE polyethylene and other Anti-Static additives. These anti static bags do not provide shielding, and static discharge outside the bag can enter the bag. However, its material does not hold a triboelectric charge, so it wouldn’t be a carrier that prevents the electric build-up in a static controlled environment (SCE), and it can easily transport your Non-ESD products in SCE.

· Dissipative Shielding Bags:

These Dissipative bags have a surface resistance in the dissipative material range. These ESD bags are beneficial for you because these bags help to dissipate charge across the surface in a controlled manner than conductive material. Some of these ESD bags also have some Anti-Static shielding properties and find their application in non-critical conditions.

Whenever you use a conductor for static discharging, the conductor’s energy can be high and can easily create a spark. Further, this plastic inert dissipative causes the current to flow slower and prevent possible damage to any ESD-sensitive electronic devices. However, these bags are ideal for transporting products that experience maximum human interaction.

Before you consider your ideal ESD bag, it is important acknowledge their applications vary depending on different conditions, and you have to be careful about storage conditions before selecting the anti static bag for your ESD products.

How to Choose a Perfect ESD bag?

Till now, we have discussed the types of ESD bags. Now, we will share tips and tricks on choosing a perfect anti static bag to make the selection process easier for you. Note that you must be very clear about your application, purpose, and storage conditions before selecting the ESD bag. Let us discuss the steps to find the right anti static bag for your products.

· You should be clear about the material you want to put inside the bag. Always check whether it is ESD sensitive or Non-ESD sensitive material.

· Secondly, you should make sure that whether your product has any issue with moisture or not. If yes, then buy moisture-resistant material bags.

· Then, you should make sure whether your items are sensitive to physical damage or not.

· It would be best if you are sure whether it will transport inside the EPA or outside furthermore, whether these bags will place on the ground shelf or the upper shelf of storage.

Once you are clear about the above points, you can now buy ESD bag for your sensitive product.

Tips for Using Shielding Bags:

Once you buy an ESD bag, you have to follow some tips to use it efficiently for the longer term and prevent damages. Here are the tips for using these bags effectively.

· Keep Anti Static Bags Away from Synthetic Material:

Always keep your ESD bags away from plastic and synthetic material as these materials can accumulate charges and damage electronics material inside them.

· Fully Cover the ESD-Sensitive Item with a Static Shielding Bag:

You should always use this bag for items that can easily fit inside it. Otherwise, the electrostatic discharge will build up electricity and harm items.

· Keep Anti Static Bags Away from Air:

Always keep your anti static bags away from air, too, as it also causes accumulation of charges and damages the ESD-sensitive products.

· Do not Staple Your Shielding Bag:

Do not staple your bag in any case, as it damages the shielding of the bag and provides a conductive layer to ESD-sensitive items.

· Do Not Use Damaged Shielding Bags:

Do not ever use a damaged ESD bag for your product, as these holes provide conducting path to ESD sensitive material and harm them.

Precautions before Removing Items from ESD Bags:

You should never remove ESD-sensitive products from these ESD bags with bare hands. Instead, it would be best if you took some precautionary measures given below to prevent any damage to ESD machinery.

· Use an Anti Static Wrist Strap for Proper Handling:

You should always use an anti static wrist strap for handling items that can cause ESD damage, and always make sure that the anti static wrist strap is in direct contact with your skin.

· Avoid Contact of ESD Material and Clothing:

It would be best to avoid contact between ESD material and clothing because ESD voltages emitted from your clothes can harm sensitive items. You may want to consider purchasing ESD clothing.

· Place Upside of ESD Component on Antistatic Surface:

Before removing the item subject to ESD damage, you should always place the component’s upside on an Anti-Static rack or ESD workstation.

Conclusion:

Although it might be arduous for you to select the ideal shielding bags for your cause, you can pick the right bag with a little knowledge. Moreover, you can check the characteristics of each type of these bags given above and analyse which one fits your demands. Furthermore, also take the safety precautions given above to avoid any damage.

That’s all from today’s tutorial. If you still have any queries in purchasing the right bag for your product, then feel free to contact us!