Abstract:

What is ESD?
In a word, ESD is rapid neutralization of charge.
ESD is the acronym of electrostatic discharge, representing the flow of static current. ESD is a term used in the scientific specialties focusing on studying the occurrence, damage and prevention measures of static electricity from the 1950s. Accordingly, ESD is generally used by the international peers as the term for all device used for electrostatic protection purposes. In China, ESD usually refers to static impedance device in China. 　　

General Knowledge of ESD
Static electricity refers a natural occurrence caused by a variety of actions, such as contact and friction. Static electricity is characterized by high voltage, low power, low current, and short occurrence time. The human body itself will produce thousands of volts or even ten thousands of volts of static electricity when in contact with objects, or involving separation, friction or induction. It may cause severe damage in a number of fields. Static electricity arising from friction and that caused by the human body's activities are two of major damages to electronics. The major electrostatic protection measures in the production process involve static electricity leakage, dissipation, neutralization, wetting, shielding and grounding. The electrostatic protection measures against ESD caused by the human body’s activities involve wearing of static wrist bands, ankle bands, clothes, footwear, hats, gloves or finger stalls, which facilitate static leakage, neutralization and shielding. The electrostatic protection is a systematic project requiring long-term efforts, and thus any carelessness may cause failure in ESD protection. 　　

Static Electricity Damage
Static electricity is ubiquitous in our daily life. For example, the human body and the surrounding objects carry an electrostatic voltage as high as thousands of volts or even ten s of thousands of volts, though people may not be well aware of it. The human body produces an electrostatic voltage of about 35,000 volts when walking on polyester carpets, and that of about 7,000 volts when turning plastic pages. For susceptible devices, an ESD of such a voltage may cause deadly damage to it.