ESD-Mopalette^® - the safer and more colorful way to handle electronics

Ciba^® IRGASTAT^® P permanent antistatic agent increases the safety in packaging and handling of sensitive electronic devices

Electronic devices are becoming increasingly miniaturized. As a result, their sensitivity for electrostatic charges and discharge processes is becoming increasingly stronger. At the same time, economic aspects, as well as weight reduction and design freedom are pushing packaging applications in the electronics industry towards the use of plastic materials.

Unfortunately plastics are insulators by nature. The generation of electrostatic charges on non-conductive polymer surfaces and their uncontrolled electrostatic discharge (ESD) are most often the cause of cost intensive damage of electronic devices.

One of the items most often used in transportation, packaging and handling systems for electronics are thermoformed trays made of Polystyrene or Polypropylene. Until now, these stackable pallets were made with carbon black to make them charge dissipating. In this form, they fulfill the common regulations for use of plastics in contact with electronics, but they also have major disadvantages.

As carbon black is a conductive additive, electronic parts are endangered by so called “hard” discharge, i.e., damage caused by instantaneous high currents. This often appears when grounding of these plastic trays was accidentally interrupted or cannot be fully guaranteed along the whole production line. This happens, for example, at inter-company shipments. The release of carbon particles, so called “sloughing”, occurs with any kind of friction during the normal usage of the trays. Especially with progressing miniaturization, these conductive particles increasingly become a violation risk through short circuits when falling on the electronics devices. The washing procedures for the packaging systems, established in electronics production lines as regular standards, lead to further sloughing and exhaustion of the ESD-protective effect.

These major disadvantages now have been resolved.  In a joint project between Mopac AG, Switzerland, a specialist in sophisticated thermoform packaging, and Ciba Specialty Chemicals,Switzerland, a PS-sheet has been developed which contains Ciba® IRGASTAT® P permanent antistatic agent.

Ciba® IRGASTAT® P provides electrostatic dissipative properties allowing the ESD-MOPALETTE® to avoid any kind of short circuits. In addition, it protects electronic devices by so called “soft” discharge, giving an additional safety feature for electronic parts where continuous grounding of the pallets cannot be guaranteed.

Ciba® IRGASTAT® P is of polymeric nature. No release of discrete particles will lead to pollution and product damage. The polymer nature, as well, provides enough robustness so that the ESD-MOPALETTE® is able to withstand the washing cycles that are standard in the electronics industry. This results in a prolonged lifetime without deterioration of the ESD- and mechanical properties.

Because Ciba® IRGASTAT® P is colorless, Mopac AG was able to match their customers’ individual, non-black color requirements. In addition, the colorless nature of the product enables color coding, visual differentiation and logistical advantages.

The ESD-MOPALETTE® fulfills all common ESD-norms, like DIN EN 61340-5-1 and ASNI/ESD S541-2003.

The ESD-MOPALETTE® has been successfully approved for use in various production sites of the automotive and electronic industry.

With the addition of Ciba® IRGASTAT® P to the this palette, the  ESD-protection of plastics has been enhanced by allowing for greater freedom and safety in handling, as well as offering customers the ability to add color to the formerly black dominated electronics industry.

More information about Ciba® IRGASTAT® P can be found at the website of Ciba Specialty Chemicals: www.cibasc.com/IRGASTAT

For more information about the ESD-MOPALETTE® permanent antistatic non-black thermoformed tray, please visit the website of Mopac AG.: www.mopac.ch