The standard “ECIA EIA-541 Packaging material standards for ESD sensitive products” published by the Electronic Components Manufacturers Association (ECIA) applies to several different categories of electrostatic shielding packaging materials. These packaging materials may have certain electrostatic properties, such as preventing triboelectric charging (antistatic), dissipating a charge through surface or volume conduction, or acting as a shield against electrostatic fields. These electrostatic properties are independent (not mutually exclusive). The form or shape in which these materials are used is not restricted. In addition, a manufactured product may have more than one of these electrostatic properties. The appropriate electrostatic properties that a product must have are determined by the user’s requirements. Electromagnetic shielding packaging is outside the scope of this standard.
Tape and reel packaging is the best way to hold, handle, store and transport electronic components. This method provides strong protection and facilitates precise surface mounting of components. This packaging is used in a variety of industries. It is popular in consumer electronics, medical applications, industrial services, aerospace and automotive industries.
The tape and reel packaging process uses individual pockets on the conveyor belt. Each pocket houses an electronic component that is then covered with heat or pressure sealing cover tape. The tape containing the sealed pockets of the components is then wound onto a reel. Manufacturers must adhere to tape and reel packaging standards. This ensures that there are no problems during automated surface mounting of components. This standard outlines guidelines to ensure that a quality product is received.
Packaging is essential to protect electronic products from physical and environmental damage during manufacture, transportation, and storage. While most types of packaging (except for static-sensitive products) provide physical and environmental protection, they can damage static-sensitive electronic products by allowing static electricity to build up or discharge. Packaging for ESD-sensitive products is often achieved by modifying existing packaging so that the packaging itself does not cause static damage. The packaging generally maintains its physical and environmental protective properties. ESD-protective packaging has been further modified to prevent other sources of static electricity from damaging a packaged product.
Polyethylene bags are useful packaging for storing items and protecting them from physical and environmental damage. However, polyethylene bags can accumulate potentially harmful amounts of static electricity. Chemicals (antistats) are added to the polyethylene bag to make it low-charged. The result is a low-charge (antistatic) polyethylene bag that is less likely to damage static-sensitive items. A conductive layer is added to the low-charge polyethylene bag to create an ESD shielding bag. This shielding bag is low-charged and protects the packaged items from ESD and the electric fields created by other items.
Other standard packaging, including paper corrugated and plastic cases, trays, and clamshell cases, follow similar paths. A complete ESD control program requires the use of ESD protective packaging to properly manufacture, transport, and store ESD-sensitive devices. This standard provides requirements for ESD protective packaging that must be located inside and outside the electrostatically protected area.
Since most physical and environmental considerations can be left to traditional packaging design and testing methodologies, only those material properties that reduce or prevent damage from static electricity should be addressed.
This standard describes the packaging material properties required to protect electronic components sensitive to electrostatic discharge (ESD) and defines test methods to evaluate the packaging itself and packaging materials for these properties. Where possible, performance limits are provided. Guidance is provided for selecting packaging types with appropriate protective properties for specific applications.
This standard defines the packaging specifications required to protect electronic products sensitive to electrostatic discharge during all stages of production, transportation and storage.
The procedures and equipment described in this standard may expose personnel to hazardous electrical conditions. Users of this standard are responsible for selecting equipment that complies with applicable laws and regulatory codes. Users are cautioned that this standard does not replace or override any requirements for personnel safety.
Ground fault circuit interrupters and other safety protections should be considered wherever personnel may come into contact with electrical sources. Electrical hazard reduction practices should be implemented and proper grounding instructions for equipment should be followed.
Transport of electrostatic sensitive devices requires packaging that provides protection against electrostatic hazards in the transport or storage system. In the case of an electrostatically protected area designed with continuous grounding of all conductors and dissipative elements (including personnel), packaging may not be required.
A package used within an electrostatically protected area must consist of:
Items sensitive to human body model 100 Volts or less may require additional protection depending on application and program plan requirements.
Transporting sensitive products outside the electrostatically protected area requires packaging that:
If electric field shielding materials are used to provide discharge shielding, a material that provides a barrier to current flow (insulator) must be used in conjunction with the electric field shielding material. Where this standard does not provide a test method, the user shall determine the electrostatic discharge shielding properties of the packaging.
This standard may not be applicable to all applications. Adaptation is performed by evaluating the applicability of each requirement for the specific application. Following evaluation, requirements may be added, modified or deleted.
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