At NEDC, we manufacture gaskets, and custom pads. One of the more interesting materials offer is electrostatic dissipative(ESD) gasketing. Out of those materials we manufacture ESD Gaskets.
What is ElectroStatic Dissipative Gasketing?
It might be a good idea to start with the definition of what electrostatic dissipative gasketing is. It’s important to distinguish what Electrostatic Dissipative is versus what Electrically Conductive Gasketing is. This is defined on a spectrum. I actually Googled this myself because I view it as relative to the application but the definition is: “1×10 to the 5th ohms/square but less than 1×10 to the 11th ohms/square. “ Essentially its defined as how quickly electricity moves through an object.
Quick Hand Definitions:
Conductive is 10 to the 4th, and lower- meaning electricity moves through these objects/materials very quickly.
Insulative is 10 to the 11th and up- meaning electricity moves very slowly, or does not move at all through it.
Anti-Static/Static Dissipative is between Conductive/Insulative- so it all depends on the application.
So essentially, an (ElectroStatic Disspative) ESD Gasket is material cut into a custom shape for an application that fall in between insulative/conductive materials.
ESD Gaskets vs Antistatic Gaskets vs Conductive Gaskets
ESD gaskets and antistatic gaskets are the same thing : both refer to gasketing materials with a resistance between 10⁵ and 10¹¹ ohms per square, which puts them in the middle of the conductivity spectrum. The term ‘ESD’ (ElectroStatic Dissipative) is the industry-standard label; ‘antistatic’ is a marketing synonym. The middle-ground resistance is important: an ESD gasket dissipates static charge slowly enough to avoid the rapid-discharge damage that sensitive electronics can suffer, but quickly enough that charge does not accumulate on the enclosure surface. By contrast, conductive gaskets (10⁴ ohms/sq or below) are typically used for EMI/RFI shielding, not for static control : they are too conductive for the slow-dissipation job. NEDC’s conductive foam for electrical grounding pads, including Laird CF500/CF700/CF600/CF800 and Condux PORON Plus, falls in the conductive (not ESD) regime.
Effects of Lack of ESD Control
When static build-ups in an application, it can damage or cause equipment to malfunction. Electronics that are sensitive to this, can have devastating effects.
Availability of Electrostatic Dissipative Gasketing Materials:
Silicone Rubber Electrostatic Dissipative
For applications in the full-conductive regime (10⁴ ohms/sq or below) : including EMI/RFI shielding per MIL-DTL-83528 : see NEDC’s electrically conductive silicone gasket materials and the EMI shielding hub for the silver/aluminum and silver/copper families.
Product Availability: Saint Gobain EC-102 (click to Download Datasheet)
Product Availability: Rogers Corporation EC 2265 (click to download datasheet)
-Qualified for outdoor use/gasketing
-Same benefits as typical silicone, wide temp range, stands up to ozone, and UV rays
Neoprene(Chloroprene) Rubber Electrostatic Dissipative
-(50A-70A) durometer is standard
-Various Manufacturers
-Qualified for outdoor use/gasketing
-Good Oil Resistance typical of Neoprene type rubber products
-Available up to .250’’ .
Conductive Foam for Electrical Grounding Pads
These foams are good because they offer a good compression opportunity that allows the material tolerance to have a small set, and take up space in the application while also maintaining a ground. They have good chemical resistance, and decent heat resistance.
Use of Conductive Foam for grounding pads is very common. Materials such as:
CF500/CF700/CF600/CF800 from Laird
CF Conductive Foam by Schlegel
Condux PORON Plus by Rogers Corporation (see PORON Urethane Foam for material properties and converting options).
Applications that utilize Electrostatic Dissipative Materials:
-Grounding Pads
-Gasketing combined with ESD control
More Info on ElectroStatic Dissipative, ESD Gaskets
As is typical with most gasketing than NEDC offers, we sell adhesive tape products applied to them to help with assembly. These materials are available in nominal thicknesses ranging from .032’’ to .125’’. NEDC die-cuts or waterjet cuts electric static dissipative materials out of sheet stock. For more information on electric static dissipative gaskets, or pads, or you believe you have an application that could utilize this please contact sales@nedc.com.