Electrical Fields - Practical Considerations for the Factory

ANSI/ESD S20.20 recommends that process essential insulators with a measured electrical field strength of >2000 volts at 1 inch should be kept a minimum of 12 inches from ESD susceptible items. In addition, for close proximity or contact, the standard requires that insulators have an electric field of <125 volts at 1 inch. Just what are the practical considerations of these statements? What is the size of a charged object and magnitude of an electric field that imposes a real risk? The goal of this tutorial is to show, by demonstration, the field strength and resulting induction ability from different sized objects. 

Electric fields are the major contributor (beyond gravity) to attraction of particles to surfaces. The science of particle attraction, adhesion and particle removal is very complex but it is important to have a fundamental understanding if your production processes involve cleanliness of surfaces. This tutorial will cover the important considerations of particle dynamics.   

The audience should gain a practical perspective of size and distance as related to charged objects, electrical fields, induction and the interaction of electric fields with airborne particles.