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ESD and Static Control Questions Answered

QUESTION: Why can't bare or sealed concrete be used as a method for controlling static electricity in a electronics manufacturing environment verse utilizing a Conductive or Static Dissipative covering and/or coating?
ANSWER:
I've done some studies on ESD resistive characteristics of the several different floor surfaces.  In light of the following question, I just snapped some photos of ESD readings on the following surfaces:
ESD test on dry concrete Bare concrete (dry).  Results- barely conductive, very humidity dependant; in the insulative range(1E09-1E12)
ESD test on asphalt Asphalt.  Results- unacceptable; above insulative.
ESD test on dirt Dirt.  Results- pretty good, acually comes in at barely dissipative; Upside, cheap; Downside, hard to clean.
ESD test on carpet ESD Carpet
(Ground Zero Information).  Results- ESD conductive(2.5e4-1.0E6).
ESD test on vinyl tile ESD Tile (Ground Zero Information).  Results - ESD dissipative(1.0E6-1.0E8).
ESD test on bare concrete Sealed Concrete.  Results-unacceptable; a sealed concrete is necessary for heavy foot traffic, but the very thing that would make the concrete conductive is sealed out- moisture.  This floor could be made dissipative very easily with an ESD chemical (Ground Zero Information.
ESD test on particle board Particle board.  See asphalt
ESD test on concrete Bare concrete exposed to moisture.  Results-not too bad, just outside of the recommended range for Static Dissipative(1.0E8-1.0E9).  Though the Body Voltage Generation voltages for flooring above 1.0E8 and below 1.0E9 may be acceptable for some ESDS devices, if it dries out a little bit or gets a little bit of dust on it, that resistance shoots up and you are without an ESD floor.
ESD test on woods Sealed wood.  I have a cousin who says that workbenches and tables should just be made of wood.  Wood is not the most insulative material, but you just cannot discharge an insulator.  Charges do generate on each and every surface, but on an insulator, they just don't move; thus the term-Static.
ESD test on rubber floor ESD rubber.  Results-  Static Conductive.  Upside, Superior slip and chemical resistance, very durable.  Expensive.

We actually have a PDF which describes the difference of ESD flooring installations that we provide.  View that information.

 
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