Are
Awareness Bracelets ESD Safe?
Probably Not!
Today
there are awareness bracelets for every cause. Everything from Diabetes
to Cancer to Geeks have awareness bracelets.
Most
of them are made from 100% silicon rubber. Since they dangle from
the wrist, they can charge and accumulate the charge resulting in
apparent potentials of over 3 kV.
While, we have no official report of
the bracelets even being evaluated as an ESD hazard, the issue should
be addressed due to the popularity of the bracelets. However, the
real question of whether or not they are a hazard is the level of
ESD protection being used. The bracelets are probably not large enough
to cause significant problems in most lower sensitivity ESD applications.
If the work is in a Class 0 area, then ionizers could be used so their
danger would be minimized. The bracelets are similar to the insulative
components of normal electronic assemblies such as PC boards and epoxy
cased components and Lexan connectors.
That being said, the bracelets do, when clean,
produce a few kV of potential near the work area. Therefore they probably
should not be worn in close proximity to highly sensitive components.
The bracelets can be reduced in their charging
and accumulation by the application of moisturizing lotions which
would wear off and have to be checked.
Therefore it is the ESD Journal's opinion that
they probably should not be allowed during work or coated or covered
with a wristband or under an ESD garment. Most likely they should
be considered another piece of jewelry and not allowed in work areas
unless they are rendered ESD safe.
Let us know what you think and if you have any
real experience with these bracelets in ESD areas.
FEEDBACK
BUTTON
