The Why and How to Remove Static Electricity & Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Part 1!

Electrostatic Discharge (ESD), is a static electricity issue that can make any manufacturer’s hair stand on end. Luckily, ESD can be eliminated by understanding its cause, recognizing its symptoms, and implementing best practices and anti-static technologies. Learn more by watching this two-part series, where we’ll explain the WHY and HOW behind ESD: Why it occurs, why it is a problem, and how to solve the problem.

Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) is what we recognize as the “zap” or spark we experience with static electricity. This spark may seem small, but a single spark can generate up to 3,000 volts of electricity! The results of this electrical charge can range from creating minor nuisances in your machine line to costly (and potentially deadly) repercussions, including latent damage to products, product contamination and even explosions. Unfortunately, issues with ESD become worse in the fall and winter, because static charge is more likely to build up when the air is dry.

As products and mechanisms move through the manufacturing line, this movement creates friction, which is the cause of static electricity and ESD. These electrically charged items can wreak havoc in the manufacturing line, as they can attract or repel other objects through the system. In some instances, the product will become adhesive to surfaces, sometimes becoming stuck at various points throughout the process. In other instances, the product may move away from objects down the line. As you can imagine, this can cause serious problems on the production floor when products are going through various stages from assembly to packaging.

Not only can it hold up your manufacturing process, but it can also damage, or even destroy your products. ESD is often unpredictable in its speed and amount of discharge, but it’s not uncommon for a spark to create enough volts to melt the device’s current-carrying elements. For example, one zap of ESD can change the circuit from a semi-conductor to an always-conductor, which usually results in a spark and a bad smell when powered on. Manufacturers of semi-conductors and other electronic devices can see lower yields and loss of revenue due to ESD. Quality issues can also arise, as malfunctions from ESD sometimes don’t surface until days or weeks later, after testing has already been completed.

Another issue static brings is the attraction of unwanted particles, like dust, dirt, pollen and bacteria. Ionized products attract electrons that carry unwanted particles, covering the product in dust and dirt. This creates quality issues for the final product and depending on the application, potential health hazards for the end-user.

Static has also become more of an issue with increased production pressures. As manufacturers increase their production rate and reduce material costs by switching to synthetic materials, they create the perfect environment for static electricity. Although most materials can generate a positive or negative charge, synthetic materials are more likely to retain charges because they have low conductivity, so their charge is less likely to dissipate. Surprisingly, air actually has the potential to be highly positive in charge, meaning they have a tendency to give away electrons. Other positively-charged materials include glass, Lexan, nylon, wool, lead, aluminum and paper. Negatively charged materials include hard rubber, polyester, silicone, vinyl, metals like gold, silver, nickel, platinum and copper, polyester, plastic wrap, polyethylene, which is the material of scotch tape, silicon, Teflon, certain types of foam, and more. All of these materials have a tendency to readily attract electrons.

Stay tuned to part two, where we’ll learn how to remove static discharge from your manufacturing line. Hit that subscribe button and bell icon so you don’t miss it!

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[kairasrobloxchannel]

Thank you explained very well compared to those extremely technical professor's.

[RishabhChouhan]

I was going to have physics lecture after but this video was one of them.

Thanks Man

[shield]

Gibson Guitars uses an Electrostatic charge to attract the clear finish onto their guitars. The results 'for me' have been negative with pops and cracking coming through my amp. This has happened with three different Gibson guitars and only happens with Gibson guitars. Some will attribute this to a "grounding" issue either with the guitar or the homes electrical wiring, but I am 'in my instance' 100% positive that this isn't the case. I am here trying to find out how to remove this static charge to try and fix a problem that really shouldn't be there to begin with.

[gaganpreetkalkat]

Please help from past few days m getting shock from each thing I touch in my house even my family members

[realizejust]

As for the electrical discharge, when the body rubs with the carpet, it loses electrons, and when the body touches any metal surface close to it, such as a door handle, for example (the bonding forces of electrons are weak) the electrons will move from the metal surface of the human body to compensate for the lack of electrons in it. The question is why does a positive charge not appear on the surface A metal that has lost its electrons?

[whatthehop]

Last night when i was going to sleep when i touched my blanket it literally zapped 3 time and it was really lighting!! It even has a sound! then i did it again till i mastered it.. Then i made a line of lightining it was so cool! i rubbed the blanket with closed hand then didnt open my hand and open my hand to another object then a big lighting literally came out of my hand... now i waked up And cant do it again! i just want to kniw how this static electricity Came out of my hand rpidly! its not small its so big!

[dannotwalruslarkin]

Man, i sure would appreciate your help at my work. Im tired of getting zapped so hard I swear its wirelessly charging my cell phone.

[SuperSerNiko]

The current is also very high because the ionized air in a spark have very low resistance!
Neither voltage nor current are low so the power is very high.
What is low here is the total energy because the spark happens for a very brief amount time.

[jeffreyjitterbug]

Whaaaatttt! This is awesome thank you great graphics helped me understand totally : D

[worldaviationk]

What if the object i'm touching has the right amount of both + and -? how come i get a shock from the laptop? The bed sheets i guess made me more negative? but what if the laptop doesn't need any electrons?

[jhvlogs]

I ordered a loft bed. Metal frame. It has static. How to remove it?? 🥺🥺🥺

[lucaslahingpinoy]

How to discharge static in aircondition

[rameshbhaipatel]

How to remove static charge from nonwoven bag machine

[aylin]

I have a small room with 1 ton ac and i get shock when I touch bedsheet, blacket, bed and even floor… please suggest me how to stop this

[autorefengineers]

pls tell me how to generate a static electricity in air curtain unit

[youngdogify]

I does actually spark with a green light slot these day while I turning in d bed I spark in blanket with green light can u help me with this

[tri-acecarrington]

i have alot of electronics in my room is there a device that can reduce the feild of electricity in the atmosphere?

[brandonkrause]

I need help guys. I work at a PVC plant and our pallets of pipes are super charged. When I go to band them up, when I touch metal in the area I get shocked every time. Anything I can do?

[royrice]

I “killed” a video camera with static electricity. It is hard to remember to ground yourself out before picking up electronic equipment. Three hundred dollars later I am getting better at it. ⚡️😩⚡️

[JonatasAdoM]

It's really funny how dry areas know eletrostatic as a fact of life.

However, in truly humid places, electrostatic is almost a myth. You don't know people that have shocked themselves and the only contact you'll have with it is that sensation on your hairs when you approach a charged object.