ESD CORNER

ESD Systems’ ESD Technical Newsletter
Issue 8, August 1999: Volume 2
Reference: http://www.esdsystems.com/newsletters/v2issue8.htm

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Sender : ESD Systems, 19 Brigham Street, # 9, Marlboro, MA 01752-3170
Phone  : 508-485-7390
E-mail : editor@esdsystems.com

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This is a free monthly newsletter, which specializes on issues in static control in the semiconductor/electronics workplace.

Need your own copy? Want to subscribe to this Newsletter? All you, or your colleague(s), need to do is simply fill out the subscription form at http://www.esdsystems.com/forms/esdmail.asp Let us know what you think. Tell us what you would like to see in future issues. Want to contribute articles or other related information to our Newsletter? Send your comments to the editor@esdsystems.com

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IN THIS ISSUE:
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·        HOT TIP of the MONTH (Check your Tape)

·        21st Annual EOS/ESD Symposium '99 (September 26-30)

·        ESD Q&A CORNER (ESD Tape)

·        PRODUCT UPDATES (Wescorp ESD Tape)

·        Dr. ZAP (ESD Tape – Applications)



HOT TIP of the MONTH (Check your Tape)
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Tape can be found at most workstations.  What to look for? - Look for tape dispensers at workstations; Look at I.C. tubes in stock areas or, kitting areas, etc.; Look at bags and how they are, closed or sealed; Look at paperwork and how it is, tagged on product.  Standard packaging tape or all-purpose tape typically generates several thousands of volts (up to 15 kV) when unrolled or removed from a surface.  This large electric field can induce charge imbalances on isolated conductors (i.e., ESDS devices) and put these ESD sensitive (ESDS) devices at risk.  To combat this, check your tapes for field induction problems by measuring them with a field meter.  In all critical areas make sure you have non-tribocharging (antistatic) tape for the right application.  Don’t let charge generating tape interfere with your ESD Control program; either remove it or replace it with ESD safe tapes to minimize product failures.

 


1999 EOS/ESD Symposium
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The 21st annual EOS/ESD Symposium is scheduled for the Wyndham Palace Resort in Orlando, FL, September 26-30, 1999.

The Symposium emphasizes the effects of electrical overstress (EOS), electrostatic discharge (ESD) and electrostatics on electronic and non-electronic devices, assemblies, systems, and processes.

Technical papers and authors corners will cover the latest research and technology. The technical program is supplemented by workshops and ESD training videos. The Symposium opens with two days of ESD seminars and tutorials.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to visit the exhibits of more than 100 companies who provide EOS and ESD control products and services.

Hundreds of attendees from throughout the world are expected to attend the annual event. The Symposium is sponsored by the ESD Association in cooperation with the IEEE. It is technically co-sponsored by the Electron Devices Society.

For more information on the Symposium, contact the 1999 EOS/ESD Symposium, c/o the ESD Association, 7900 Turin Rd., Building 3, Suite 2, Rome, NY 13440. Phone: 315-339-6937; Fax: 315-339-6793; e-mail: eosesd@aol.com    Web Site: http://www.eosesd.org



ESD Q&A CORNER
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The following questions and answers were selected from our FAQ WEB Page: http://www.esdsystems.com/question.html concerning Questions about ESD Sensitive Components and Standards.

Q1:.  Customers are having a hard time working out how a masking tape can be used in a wave solder where the older temp can go up as high as 250°C - much higher than the masking temperature? - David, Crowboro, England


A1:  From what I understand, the temperature of the operation dictates which tape you use.  If the wave solder or solder operation is at or below 135 degrees Celsius then the high temperature masking tape can be used.  If the temperature of the operation is higher than that and below 260 degrees Celsius then the Polyimide tape is recommended.

A typical wave solder operation may have a contact time to 1.5 to 2.5 seconds with the tape at a solder bath temperature between 235 and 260 degrees Celsius.


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Q2:  The products my company works on are SGI computers. We occassionally have to remove the system boards, and install CPUs or Memory.

I have currently been tasked with establishing an ESD area for our company. I have purchased table mats, wrist straps and wrist strap monitors. I have marked the area clearly with color-coded tape on the floor, as well as hanging signs declaring the area as an ESD area. Are there any other steps I need to do to ensure the area is set up correctly? - Ralph Brandt, Rosses Medical, Columbia, MD


A2:  Even if you make the assumption that all devices are class 0, there are still a few things that need to be addressed.

  1. All ESD sensitive components coming into the area need be in sealed ESD protective packaging, if not, they may already have been damaged upstream from your ESD Safe work area (using a shielding bag with the top folded over and secured with ESD tape is acceptable)
  2. All employees handling ESD sensitive devices in the ESD safe work area need to be properly trained, so they know how/why to wear their wrist strap, how to test it, when to wear it, how to handle ESD sensitive devices including the opening of ESD packages
  3. Your vendors supplying ESD sensitive devices need to both handle them correctly and package them correctly
  4. Control the necessary insulators at your ESD Safe work area with ionization or topical ESD treatments
  5. Remove unnecessary insulators from your ESD safe work area
  6. Replace all non-ESD tapes with anti-static ESD safe tape
  7. Check the integrity of your ESD ground, common point ground
  8. Make sure an operator doesn't come in more than 12 inches from an ESD sensitive device before donning their wrist strap (make it easy to plug in at front of bench)
  9. Set up and monitor scheduled auditing of your ESD safe work area to ensure all items are in compliance, including the operators training




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PRODUCT UPDATES (NEW!)
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ESD TAPES – Item #s 16120 - 16154

Wescorp ESD Anti-Static Tapes for packaging, general purpose, masking, shielding, etc.

Acetate Tape for general purpose and packaging, clear, w/symbols, red & blue (Items # 16120-16139)
Conductive Grid Shielding Grid Tape for applications requiring EMI shielding (Items # 16140-116143)
Masking Tape used for masking PCB gold features for some wave solderers (Items # 16144-16149)
Hi-Temp Polyimide Tape used for masking PCB gold features for all wave solderers (Item # 16150-16154)



Dr. ZAP
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Topic:  ESD TAPE APPLICATIONS

Antistatic Clear Acetate Tape

·        Sealing ESD bags and other ESD packaging / containers

·        Use with ESD symbols for ESD awareness

·        General purpose ESD tape applications

·        Secure (bundle) IC DIP tubes

·        Prevents damage to sensitive electronic components in manufacturing.

·        Ideal for hold notes, work orders or obstructions in offices, antistatic work stations, or for general purpose third hand use.

·        Ideal for masking, conformal coating or holding and sealing supplies in manufacturing.

·        Ideal in packaging for container sealing, static shielding bag closure and holding DIP tubes

 

Antistatic Red or Blue Acetate Tape

·        Identification or marking product / paperwork / processes

·        Attach ESD paperwork to bags or product

·        Ideal in packaging for container sealing, static shielding bag closure and holding IC DIP tubes

·        Prevents damage to sensitive electronic components in manufacturing.

 

Antistatic Conductive Shielding Grid Tape

·        For applications requiring EMI shielding

·        Use in areas where the generation of static electricity is of concern

·        Using grounded Tape Dispenser, voltage generated by unrolling will effectively be reduced to zero

·        Secure (bundle) IC tubes

 

Antistatic Masking Tape

·        Use in applications masking PCBs gold features for wave soldering or soldering under 135oC

·        Thick conductive adhesive excellent for conformability to protect critical PCB features

·        For printed circuit board applications. Mask gold fingers, wave solder, dip and drag. No voltage generation when tape removed from PCB [at 50% relative humidity].  Prevents ESD damage to sensitive electronic components.

·        Ideal for masking gold leads and other components on boards populated with sensitive integrated circuits.

·        Easily handles high temperatures of wave soldering without leaving a residue.

·        Handles temperatures found in test and burn-in ovens.

 

Antistatic High Temp Polyimide (Kapton®) Tape

·        Ideal for masking gold leads and other components on boards populated with sensitive integrated circuits.

·        Thick conductive adhesive excellent for conformability to protect critical PCB features

·        No voltage generation when tape unrolled from roll [at 50% relative humidity].

·        No voltage generation when tape removed from PCB [at 50% relative humidity].

·        masking off PCBs for IR reflow ovens or wave soldering under 260oC ~ 10 seconds

 

Aisle Marking Tape

·        Use to mark off floors designating ESD Controlled areas

·        Can be used as area signs

 

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This is a free monthly newsletter, which specializes on issues in static control in the semiconductor/electronics workplace.

Need your own copy? Want to subscribe to this Newsletter? All you or your colleague(s) need to do is simply fill out the subscription form at http://www.esdsystems.com/forms/esdmail.asp

This Newsletter is never sent unsolicited. To unsubscribe from this mailing, send an e-mail to ESD_Newletters@esdsystems.com and put " UNSUBSCRIBE ESD_Newsletters" in the subject.

Let us know what you think. Tell us what you would like to see in future issues. Want to contribute articles or other related information to our Newsletter? Send your comments to the editor@esdsystems.com

Copyright © Desco Industries, Inc. 1999

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